MANDRAKE

mandrake, devil's apples, Mandragora officinarum

(noun) a plant of southern Europe and North Africa having purple flowers, yellow fruits and a forked root formerly thought to have magical powers

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

mandrake (countable and uncountable, plural mandrakes)

(mythology) 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.

(slang) The drug methaqualone.

Synonym: mandies (plural)

Source: Wiktionary

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Man"drake, n. Etym: [AS. mandragora, L. mandragoras, fr. Gr. mandragore.]

1. (Bot.)

Definition: A low plant (Mandragora officinarum) of the Nightshade family, having a fleshy root, often forked, and supposed to resemble a man. It was therefore supposed to have animal life, and to cry out when pulled up. All parts of the plant are strongly narcotic. It is found in the Mediterranean region. And shrieks like mandrakes, torn out of the earth, That living mortals, hearing them, run mad. Shak.

Note: The mandrake of Scripture was perhaps the same plant, but proof is wanting.

2. (Bot.)

Definition: The May apple (Podophyllum peltatum). See May apple under May, and Podophyllum. [U.S.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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