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    What was the original meaning of the word drugs?

    Question #99935. Asked by Flem-ish. (Oct 04 08 9:30 PM)


    looney_tunes

    		The word "drugs" may be from the Olf French "drogue", perhapds from an earlier Dutch or German "droge-vat" meaning "dry barrels", with first element mistaken as a word for the contents (see dry goods), or because medicines mostly consisted of dried herbs.

    Application to "narcotics and opiates" is 1883, though association with "poisons" is 1500s. The verb is from 1605.

    http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=d&p=18

    Oct 04 08, 9:37 PM
    author

    		From Dutch droog = "dry", referring to medicinal plants preserved by drying them.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug#Etymology

    Or from Middle Dutch "droge"?

    Some say that it comes from "droga", derived from Persian "droa", meaning "aromatic odor".

    http://www.speedylook.com/Dope.html

    Oct 04 08, 9:41 PM
    Flem-ish

    		As to the term "dope", it surprises me that Merriam Webster links this to Dutch "doop" in the sense of sauce. Verdam's authorative Middle Dutch dictionary mentions no such meaning.
    The link is most probably with the verb "dopen" to dip or to baptize. English dope may then have developed from the idea of a mixture into which you dip something.
    http://aolsvc.merriam-webster.aol.com/dictionary/dope

    Oct 05 08, 11:26 AM

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