man|drake

man|drake «MAN drayk», noun.

1. a poisonous herb having a very short stem and a thick, often forked root thought to resemble the human form. There are several kinds all belonging to the nightshade family and native to southern Europe and Asia. The mandrake was formerly used in medicine because of its emetic and narcotic properties.

2. the root, supposed in legend to cry out when pulled up from the ground. Eating the root was believed to aid in conceiving a child. »

And shrieks like mandrakes torn out of the earth (Shakespeare).

3. U.S. the May apple.

╂[alteration (perhaps by folk etymology, with man and drake²) of Middle English mandragge, short for mandragora < Latin mandragoras < Greek mandragóras]