'baneberry' originates from Old English elements: 'bane' (from Old English 'bana') meaning 'slayer, cause of death' and 'berry' (from Old English 'berie') meaning 'small fruit'.

'baneberry' formed in Middle English by combining the word 'bane' (Old English 'bana') with 'berry' (Old English 'berie'), producing a compound referring to a harmful or poisonous berry-bearing plant.

Initially, the element 'bane' meant 'cause of death' and, combined with 'berry', the compound came to mean 'a berry (or plant with berries) that is harmful or poisonous'; this sense has persisted into modern usage.