poison

poison
{{11}}poison (n.) c.1200, "a deadly potion or substance," also figuratively, from O.Fr. puison (12c.) "a drink," later "a potion, poisonous drink" (14c.), from L. potionem (nom. potio) "a drink," also "poisonous drink," from potare "to drink" (see POTION (Cf. potion)). The Old English word was ator (see ATTERCOP (Cf. attercop)) or lybb. Slang sense of "alcoholic drink" first attested 1805, Amer.Eng.
In many Germanic languages "poison" is euphemistically named by a word equivalent to English GIFT (Cf. gift) (Cf. O.H.G. gift, Dan., Swed. gift; Du. gift, vergift). This choice might have been aided by Gk. dosis "a portion prescribed," lit. "a giving," used by Galen and other Greek physicians to mean an amount of medicine (see DOSE (Cf. dose)).
Poison ivy first recorded 1784; poison oak is from 1743. Poison gas first recorded 1915. Poison-pen (letter) popularized 1913 by a notorious criminal case in Pennsylvania, U.S.; the phrase dates to 1898.
{{12}}poison (v.) "to give poison to," c.1300, from POISON (Cf. poison) (n.). Figuratively from late 14c. Related: Poisoned; poisoning.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • poison — [ pwazɔ̃ ] n. m. • XVIIe; 1155 n. f.; lat. potio, onis (→ potion) 1 ♦ Substance capable de troubler gravement ou d interrompre les fonctions vitales d un organisme, utilisée pour donner la mort. Poison mêlé aux aliments, à un breuvage (cf.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Poison — Poi son, n. [F. poison, in Old French also, a potion, fr. L. potio a drink, draught, potion, a poisonous draught, fr. potare to drink. See {Potable}, and cf. {Potion}.] 1. Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism, is capable of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Poison — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Poison De izquierda a derecha: C.C. DeVille, Bret Michaels, Bobby dall y Rikki Rockett(al fondo). Información personal …   Wikipedia Español

  • POISON — (Heb. חֵמָה, לַצֲבָה, מְרֵרָה, רֹאשׁ (רוֹשׁ), רַעַל, תַּרְצֵלָה; Akk. imtu, martu; Ug. ḥmt). The biblical terms for poison are derived mainly from two sources: types of poisonous plants and the poisonous venom of snakes and other reptiles. Many… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • poison — n Poison, venom, virus, toxin, bane mean matter or a substance that when present in an organism or intro duced into it produces an injurious or deadly effect. Poison is the most inclusive of these words and is applicable to any deadly or noxious… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • poison — POISON. s. m. Venin, suc veneneux, drogue, composition veneneuse. Poison subtil. poison lent, dangereux, violent, mortel. il y a des poisons sans remede. donner du poison. prendre du poison. ce poison luy perça les boyaux, luy brusla les… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Poison — Poi son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Poisoned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Poisoning}.] [Cf. OF. poisonner, F. empoissoner, L. potionare to give to drink. See {Poison}, n.] [1913 Webster] 1. To put poison upon or into; to infect with poison; as, to poison an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Poison — (englisch für Gift) bezeichnet: Poison (Band), US amerikanische Hair Metal Band Poison, Lied des Rockmusikers Alice Cooper aus dem Jahr 1989 Poison, Originaltitel eines Films von Dennis Berry aus dem Jahr 2000; siehe Das blonde Biest – Wenn… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Poison'd! — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Poison d Álbum de Poison Publicación 2007 Género(s) Heavy Metal Glam Metal …   Wikipedia Español

  • Poison — (в переводе с англ.  «яд»): Poison американская глэм рок и хеви метал группа «Poison»  песня и сингл The Prodigy «Poison»  песня и сингл Элиса Купера «Poison» песня Мартины Топли Бёрд The Poison дебютный альбом Bullet for My… …   Википедия

  • poison — [poi′zən] n. [OFr < L potio, POTION] 1. a substance causing illness or death when eaten, drunk, or absorbed even in relatively small quantities 2. anything harmful or destructive to happiness or welfare, such as an idea, emotion, etc. 3. in a… …   English World dictionary

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