‖ hyoscyamus Bot.
(haɪəʊˈsaɪəməs)
[ad. Gr. ὑοσκύαµος (f. ὑός, gen. of ὗς pig + κύαµος bean), in Palladius written iusquiamus, whence jusquiam.]
A genus of plants belonging to the N.O. Solanaceæ; the British species is Hyoscyamus niger, henbane. b. The narcotic extract or tincture of henbane.
| [1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Hyoscyamos, the Herb Henbane.] 1799 Med. Jrnl. I. 285 Hyoscyamus boiled in milk, to be applied to the eyes. 1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 410/1 Hyoscyamus, when taken by a person in health, produces disorder of the nervous system. 1878 A. M. Hamilton Nerv. Dis. 203 Hyoscyamus and belladonna also do good. |