Belladonna

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /ËŒbÉ›ləˈdÉ‘nÉ™/
• RP IPA: /ËŒbÉ›ləˈdÉ’nÉ™/
• Rhymes: -É’nÉ™

Origin

From Italian bella donna, literally 'beautiful lady', altered by folk etymology from Medieval Latin bladona 'nightshade', from Gaulish. The folk etymology was motivated by the cosmetic use of nightshade for dilating the eyes.

Noun

1. a plant, Atropa belladonna, having purple bell-shaped flowers and poisonous black glossy berries; deadly nightshade
2. an alkaloid extracted from this plant, sometimes used medicinally, containing atropine

Derived terms

• belladonna lily