An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Alraune

by Friedrich Kluge

Alraune, feminine ‘mandrake,’ from Middle High German alrûne, Old High German alrûna, feminine, ‘mandrake, sorceress’; this, as the component -rûne indicates, is a primitively term, which has been supposed to be connected with old Teutonic mythical beings who do their work secretly (compare Gothic rûna, ‘secret’; see raunen).