Hebenon

/ˈhɛbɪnɑn/ noun

Definition

A dark, poisonous substance or toxic plant extract; also a dark precious wood (variant of heben).

Etymology

From Hebrew or Middle Eastern sources, possibly related to ebony. Made famous by Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' where it's described as a deadly poison poured in the king's ear.

Kelly Says

Shakespeare invented or popularized 'hebenon' as the perfect word for an exotic medieval poison—it sounds sinister, it's mysterious because its true identity is debated, and it added exotic danger to his tragedy.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.