stinking nightshade
- noun
- /ˈstɪŋkɪŋ ˈnaɪtʃeɪd/
- UK
:
belladona hedionda
- During our walk in the woods, we noticed stinking nightshade with its yellow-brown flowers growing near the path.
Examples
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The herbalist warned us that stinking nightshade is highly toxic and should not be touched.
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Ancient physicians sometimes used extracts from stinking nightshade for medicinal purposes, despite its dangers.
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During the hike, we spotted stinking nightshade growing near the old stone wall.
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The stinking nightshade can be found in many gardens.
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I discovered a patch of stinking nightshade near the river.
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The herbalist warned us that stinking nightshade can be deadly if ingested, so we stayed clear of it.
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Ancient herbal texts mention that stinking nightshade was sometimes used despite its notorious toxicity.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A poisonous herb with sticky, hairy leaves and yellowish brown flowers
A poisonous plant also called henbane with sticky, hairy leaves and yellow-brown flowers that can cause hallucinations if eaten
A poisonous plant with sticky, hairy leaves and yellow-brown flowers from Europe, Asia and North Africa
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'stinking' (having a strong unpleasant smell) modifies 'nightshade' (a type of plant), so the meaning — a nightshade that smells bad — is directly derivable from its parts. This descriptive, compositional pattern is common across languages and follows basic English noun phrase rules, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand it.
Etymology
Stinking nightshade comes from two simple images: stinking for its strong, bad smell and nightshade from an old name for plants that grow in dark places and were often 'poisonous'. So the name helps you remember it is a dangerous, smelly plant.