An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Bilsenkraut

by Friedrich Kluge

Bilsenkraut, n., ‘henbane,’ from the equiv. MidHG. bilse, OHG. bilisa, f.; also a dial. form bilme, equal to Dan. bulme, AS. beolene (Span. beleño). The stems bilisa, beluna, common to the Teut. group, correspond to Lat. felix, filix, ‘fern,’ but more closely to Russ. belená, Pol. bielun, ‘henbane.’ Comp. further MidDu. beelde, ‘henbane.’