Mān'drāke, n.

noun

n. [A-S. & Lat. mandragora, Gr. μανδραγόρας, Fr., Sp., & Pg. mandragora, It. mandragora, mandragola, Fr. mandragore.] (Bot.) (a.) A low plant, 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 the Mandragora (Atropa) officinalis. (b.) The May-apple.

And shrieke like mandrakes torn out of the earth, That living mortals, hearing them, run mad. Shak.

¶ The mandrake of Scripture was quite a different thing, but what it was is uncertain.

An illustration of a mandrake root and its leafy branch. — Root and Branch of Mandrake.