darnel

Etymology

Comes from Middle English darnel, dernel, from Old Northern French darnelle (later dialectal French dernelle, darnette), of Germanic origin, possibly from Proto-West Germanic *darjan ("to harm, injure"). It displaced the native Old English boþen, and is related to Walloon darne, derne ("stunned, dazed, drunk") and Middle Dutch verdarnt, verdaernt ("stunned, dumbfounded, angry"). The link with being dazed or drunk comes from the plant's well-known intoxicating effects.