An alternative or archaic spelling of henbane, a poisonous plant (Hyoscyamus) historically used in small doses for medicine and witchcraft.
Variant spelling of 'henbane,' from Old English 'henneban' (literally 'hen-poison'). The 'her-' variant spelling appears in older texts, representing sound changes and scribal variations in Middle English.
Henbane contains tropane alkaloids that cause hallucinations and were likely a secret ingredient in medieval 'flying ointments' witches allegedly used—the sensation of flying was actually the drug making them feel disconnected from their body.
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