mandragora (n.)

麻醉药物的旧世界植物，早在14世纪，称为 mondrake，也称为 mandragge，源自中世纪拉丁语 mandragora，来自拉丁语 mandragoras，来自希腊语 mandragoras，可能来自非印欧语言。这个词在古英语晚期和中古英语中以其拉丁形式存在； 民间词源学将第二个元素与 dragoun 联系起来，并用本土的 drake 代替它，尽管可能没有什么意义。人们认为这个分叉的根像人体，被拔出地面时会尖叫。这种植物被认为是一种壮阳药。

Meanwhile it should not be forgotten that there was one magical possession, an idol of domestic superstition in mediaeval German households, which is said to have passed at the father's death to the youngest son upon condition that he performed certain heathenish rites in relation to the father's funeral. The "mandrake," a plant with broad leaves and bright yellow flowers and with a root which grew in a semi-human form, was found beneath the public gallows and was dragged from the ground and carried home with many extraordinary ceremonies. When secured it became a familiar spirit, speaking in oracles if properly consulted and bringing good luck to the household in which it was enshrined. [Charles Elton, "Origins of English History," 1882]

同时，不应忘记，在中世纪德国家庭中，有一种魔法物品，一种家庭迷信的偶像，据说在父亲去世时传给最年轻的儿子，条件是他在父亲的葬礼上进行某些异教仪式。这种植物名为“曼陀罗”，有着宽大的叶子和鲜黄色的花朵，根部呈半人形，被发现在公共绞刑架下，被拖出地面并带回家中进行许多非凡的仪式。当被捕获时，它成为一个熟悉的精灵，如果得到适当的咨询，会说出神谕，并为它所在的家庭带来好运。[查尔斯·埃尔顿，《英国历史的起源》，1882年]