An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Bilsenkraut

by Friedrich Kluge

Bilsenkraut, neuter, ‘henbane,’ from the equivalent Middle High German bilse, Old High German bilisa, feminine; also a dialectic form bilme, equal to Danish bulme, Anglo-Saxon beolene (Spanish beleño). The stems bilisa, beluna, common to the Teutonic group, correspond to Latin felix, filix, ‘fern,’ but more closely to Russian belená, Polish bielun, ‘henbane.’ Compare further Middle Dutch beelde, ‘henbane.’