metel
/ˈmiːtl/noun
1More fully nut metel, metel nut, nut of metel. A poisonous fruit or seed with narcotic properties, variously identified with nux vomica (the fruit of Strychnos nux-vomica) or with the fruit of a species of thorn apple (genus Datura). Now historical.
2A kind of thorn apple, often identified with the downy thorn apple, Datura metel, widely naturalized in the tropics, or with the allied D. innoxia; the round, spiny fruit of this plant. Now rare.
- The nut metel of the Arabic physicians has often been identified with Datura metel, which was thought to be native to India or China, but most modern botanists now believe that all of the members of the genus Datura are native to the New World..
Origin
Early 16th century; earliest use found in Thomas Paynell (d.?1564), translator. From post-classical Latin methel from Arabic māṯil (in jawz (nut) māṯil), of uncertain origin.