'baneberry' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'bana,' where 'bane' meant 'killer' or 'slayer,' and 'berry' referred to the fruit.

'bana' transformed into the Middle English word 'bane,' and eventually became the modern English word 'baneberry.'

Initially, it meant 'a berry that could cause harm or death,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.