ETYM Italian, literally fine lady; bella beautiful + donna lady.
Deadly nightshade; narcotic drug obtained from that plant. belladonna lily, bulbous plant of S Africa with lily-shaped flowers.
Or deadly nightshade; Poisonous plant Atropa belladonna, found in Europe and Asia. The dried powdered leaves contain alkaloids from which the drugs atropine and hyoscine are extracted. Belladonna extract acts medicinally as an anticholinergic (blocking the passage of certain nerve impulses), and is highly toxic in large doses.
Belladonna is of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It grows to 5 ft/1.5 m, with dull green leaves 8 in/20 cm in length, and solitary greenish flowers that produce deadly black berries.
1. An alkaloidal extract or tincture of the poisonous belladonna herb that is used medicinally.
2. Perennial Eurasian herb with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries; extensively grown in United States; roots and leaves yield atropine; SYN. deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna.