mandrake

From Middle English mandrake, mandroke, an alteration of mandragora with the ending -dragora reinterpreted as related to dragon and replaced with native drake, from Old English mandragora, from Medieval Latin mandragorās.

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mandrake (2)

mandrake (countable and uncountable, plural mandrakes)

1. (mythology) A mandragora, a kind of tiny demon immune to fire.
2. Any plant of the genus Mandragora, certain of which are said to have medicinal or aphrodisiac properties; the root of these plants often resembles the shape of a small person, hence occasioning various mythic, magical, or occult uses.
3. A root of a mandrake plant that resembled human form, especially one kept or used for magic or occult purposes.
   • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 75:

     Mandrakes were sometimes considered in the light of familiars. Witches kept both male and female specimens of the magic root in bottles[.]

4. (slang) The drug methaqualone.

   Synonym: (plural) mandies

• mandragora