Cowbane

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkaʊbeɪn/

Definitions

1. A highly poisonous plant of the parsley family with white flowers and tuberous roots, found in wet habitats and capable of causing severe illness or death if ingested
2. A toxic plant belonging to the parsley family that features white flowers and grows in moist areas, having the potential to induce serious health risks or fatalities when consumed
3. A harmful herbaceous species from the carrot family characterized by its white blossoms, thriving in damp environments, which can lead to severe poisoning or death if ingested

Etymology: Cowbane is a plain compound: "cow" joined to "bane," an Old English word meaning "destruction" or "poison" (it survives in "ratsbane," the old name for rat poison). The name describes what the plant did. Cattle that grazed on it in wet pasture could be killed, so farmers called it cowbane, a name that points to the animal most likely to suffer its effects. The word "bane" is the more interesting half. In Old English "bana" meant a killer or destroyer, and it was used in compounds such as "wulfesbana" (wolf's bane) for the plant now called wolfsbane. Over time "bane" narrowed to mean a cause of ruin or harm, which is why English speakers still use it in phrases like "the bane of my existence."