
mandragora (màn-dràg´er-e)
noun
MANDRAKE.
[Middle English, from Latin
mandragorâs. MANDRAKE.]
mandrake
mandrake (màn´drâk´)
noun
1. a. A southern European
plant (Mandragora officinarum) having
greenish-yellow
flowers and a branched root. This plant was once believed to have
magical
powers because its root resembles the human body. b. The root of this plant,
which contains the poisonous alkaloid hyoscyamine. Also called mandragora.
2. MAY APPLE.
[Middle English, alteration
(influenced by drake,
dragon).
DRAKE, of mandragora, from Old English, from Latin mandragorâs, from
Greek.]
May apple
May apple noun
1. A
rhizomatous
plant
(Podophyllum peltatum) of eastern North America, having a single, nodding
white flower and oval yellow fruit. Although the pulp of the ripe fruit
is edible, the roots, leaves, and seeds of the plant are poisonous.
2. The fruit of this plant. Also called mandrake.
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