† ˈdragons Obs.
Forms: (1 draconze, dracentse, dracanse) 5 dragance, -ans, -auns, -ence, -onys, 5–6 dragaunce, 5–7 dragonce, 6–8 dragons.
[In late ME. dragance, a. OF. dragance, var. of dragonce (in med.L. dragancia, -ontia):—L. dracontia, for dracontium, a. Gr. δρακόντιον, f. δράκων, δρακοντ- dragon. The Lat. word had already given late OE. draconze, dracentse.]
A popular name of the dragonwort, Dracunculus vulgaris (formerly Arum Dracunculus).
| c 1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 12 Herba dracontea þæt ys dracentse. Ibid. II. 350 Wyrc þonne drenc font wæter, rudan, Saluian, cassuc, draconzan. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 130/1 Dragaunce, herbe (dragans, P.), dragancia. c 1450 Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.) 48/1 Draguncea..gall. et angl. dragaunce. c 1450 Bk. Hawking in Rel. Ant. I. 301 Take the jus of dragonce. c 1475 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 787/8 Hec dragansia, a dragauns. 1486 Bk. St. Albans C viij a, Take Juce of dragonys. 1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe (1541) 11 b, Thynges good for the Lyver: Wormewode..Dragons. 1579 Langham Gard. Health (1633) 202 Biting of a Dogge or Adder, drinke Dragons, Rue and Betony. 1607 Topsell Serpents (1658) 804 The juyce of dragons, expressed out of the leaves, fruit, or root. 1757 A. Cooper Distiller iii. xv. (1760) 170 Take Dragons, Rosemary, Wormwood, Sage. |