Where does “poisonweed” come from?

poisonweed (English) comes from English poison, from Middle English poysoun, from Old French poison, from Latin pōtiō, from Latin -tiō, from Latin dissertātiō, from Latin dissertus, from Latin disserere — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.

poisonweed (English): The plant Delphinium geyeri, poisonous to cattle

Definitions

  1. The plant Delphinium geyeri, poisonous to cattle

Ancestry of “poisonweed”, step by step

poisonweed traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English poison

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpoisonA substance that is harmful or lethal to a living...
2Middle EnglishpoysounA poison; a poisonous substance especially as a drink
3Old Frenchpoisonpoison; potion
4Latinpōtiōdrinking
5Latin-tiōtion, -ation, -ing
6Latindissertātiō(spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

via English weed

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishweedAny plant regarded as unwanted at the place...
2Middle Englishweed
3Old Englishwēodweed
4Proto-West Germanic*weudweed (unwanted plant)
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξEvery word from Latin -tiōEvery word from Latin dis-
poisonweed — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer