nightshade

/ˈnaɪt.ʃeɪd/

Etymology

From Middle English nyȝtschade, niȝteschode, nyght shade, from Old English nihtsċada, from Proto-West Germanic *nahtskadō (“nightshade”), corresponding to night + shade. Compare Dutch nachtschade (“nightshade”), German Nachtschatten (“nightshade”).

nightshade means Any of the poisonous plants belonging to the genus Solanum, especially black nightshade or woody nightshade. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.

noun

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