henbane

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]
henbane

Etymology

[edit]

From Middle English henbane, hennebane ( > French hanebane), equivalent to hen +‎ bane. Cognate with Danish hønsebane, Swedish hönsbane. Compare also Old English hennebelle (henbane, literally hen-bell).

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

henbane (countable and uncountable, plural henbanes)

  1. A poisonous plant, Hyoscyamus niger, used sometimes as a drug that causes at least hallucinations, dilated pupils, restlessness, and flushed skin.
    Synonyms: black henbane, hog's bane, stinking nightshade
    • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 157:
      Deadly nightshade, henbane, hellebore and mandrakes were of evil reputation[.]
  2. Any other plant of the genus Hyoscyamus.

Synonyms

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]

Translations

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]