From mandragora, from Middle English mandragora, from late Old English mandragora, with -dragora reinterpreted as related to dragon and replaced with native drake.
Any plant of the genusMandragora, 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.
1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 75:
Mandrakes were sometimes considered in the light of familiars. Witches kept both male and female specimens of the magic root in bottles[.]
