NIGHTSHADE

nightshade

(noun) any of numerous shrubs or herbs or vines of the genus Solanum; most are poisonous though many bear edible fruit

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

nightshade (plural nightshades)

Any of the poisonous plants belonging to the genus Solanum, especially black nightshade or woody nightshade.

(colloquial) Any plant of the wider Solanaceae family, including the nightshades as well as tomato, potato, eggplant, and deadly nightshade.

Belladonna or deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna.

Any of several plants likened to nightshade, usually because of similar dark-colored berries.

Source: Wiktionary

Night"shade`, n. Etym: [AS. nichtscadu.] (Bot.)

Definition: A common name of many species of the genus Solanum, given esp. to the Solanum nigrum, or black nightshade, a low, branching weed with small white flowers and black berries reputed to be poisonous. Deadly nightshade. Same as Belladonna (a).

– Enchanter's nightshade. See under Enchanter.

– Stinking nightshade. See Henbane.

– Three-leaved nightshade. See Trillium.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition