An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Alraune

by Friedrich Kluge

Alraune, f. ‘mandrake,’ from MidHG. alrûne, OHG. alrûna, f., ‘mandrake, sorceress’; this, as the component -rûne indicates, is a primit. term, which has been supposed to be connected with old Teut. mythical beings who do their work secretly (comp. Goth. rûna, ‘secret’; see raunen).