mandrake

Meaning

Noun

• A mandragora, a kind of tiny demon immune to fire.
• Any plant of the genus Mandragora, certain of which are said to have medicinal properties; the root of these plants often resembles the shape of a small person, hence occasioning various mythic, magical, or occult uses.
• A root of a mandrake plant that resembled human form, especially one kept or used for magic or occult purposes.
• The drug methaqualone.

Origin

• From mandragora, from Middle English mandragora, from late Old English mandragora, with -dragora reinterpreted as related to dragon and replaced with native drake.