jimsonweed

noun

jim·​son·​weed ˈjim(p)-sən-ˌwēd How to pronounce jimsonweed (audio)
often capitalized
: a poisonous tall annual weed (Datura stramonium) of the nightshade family with rank-smelling foliage, large white or violet trumpet-shaped flowers, and roundish prickly fruits

called also thorn apple

Examples of jimsonweed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ruis is suing the CHRB for absolving Baffert of a positive for scopolamine, a byproduct of jimsonweed, after Justify tested for the drug after winning the 2018 Santa Anita Derby. Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2021 This looks like jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), also called thorn apple because of its spiky fruit. oregonlive, 5 Oct. 2019 Their hunt, which was meant to shed light on the religious and ritualistic history of smoking, had already yielded tobacco and jimsonweed residue in pipes dating back a few hundred years. Michael Price, Science | AAAS, 15 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jimsonweed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Jamestown, Virginia

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jimsonweed was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near jimsonweed

Cite this Entry

“Jimsonweed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jimsonweed. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

jimsonweed

noun
jim·​son·​weed ˈjim(p)-sən-ˌwēd How to pronounce jimsonweed (audio)
often capitalized
: a tall poisonous weed that is related to the potato and has bad-smelling leaves, large white or violet trumpet-shaped flowers, and a prickly fruit

Medical Definition

jimsonweed

noun
jim·​son·​weed
variants also jimpsonweed
: a poisonous tall annual weed of the genus Datura (D. stramonium) that has rank-smelling foliage, large white or violet trumpet-shaped flowers, and prickly round fruits and that is a source of stramonium

called also Jamestown weed

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