Also called wolfsbane. 1. Any of various, usually poisonous perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum, having tuberous roots, palmately lobed leaves, blue or white flowers with large hoodlike upper sepals, and an aggregate of follicles. 2. The dried leaves and roots of some of these plants, which yield a poisonous alkaloid that was formerly used medicinally. In both senses also called monkshood.
ETYMOLOGY:
French aconit, from Latin acontum, from Greek akonton, perhaps from neuter sing. of akontos, without dust or struggle : a-, without; see a–1 + konis, dust.
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