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n. 1. The jimsonweed. 2. The dried poisonous leaves of this plant, formerly used for medicinal purposes. [New Latin, probably ultimately from Old Catalan estremoni, datura, perhaps (in reference to its hallucinogenic properties) from Old Catalan estremonia, astrology, magic (from alteration of Latin astronomia, astronomy; see ASTRONOMY), or perhaps from alteration of Latin strūmus, nightshade (from strūma, scrofulous tumor (for which nightshade was used as a cure)), or perhaps from a source akin to Czech and Russian durman, datura (probably of Tatar origin; akin to Turkish derman, medicine, from Persian darmān, from Middle Persian, from Old Iranian *darmān-, that which contains firmness or sustenance; akin to Sanskrit dharmaḥ, statute, law; see DHARMA).] |
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