alruin

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch alrune, possibly derived from Old High German alrūna, otherwise derived from a common source. The second element -ruin is held to be derived from Proto-Germanic *rūnō (“secret, mystery”), seemingly due to the plant's association with witchcraft.[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɑlˈrœy̯n/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: al‧ruin
  • Rhymes: -œy̯n

Noun

alruin f (plural alruinen, diminutive alruintje n)

  1. mandrake (plant of genus Mandragora)
    Synonym: mandragora
  2. (particularly) common mandrake (Mandragora officinarum)
  3. (rare, literary) a mandragora sprite, supposed to be the root of the mandrake plant
    Synonym: alruinmannetje

Derived terms

  • alruinmannetje
  • alruinplant
  • alruinwortel

References

  1. ^ van der Sijs, Nicoline, editor (2010), “alruin”, in Etymologiebank, Meertens Institute

Further reading

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