1327, from O.Fr. drouge, perhaps from M.Du. or M.L.G. droge-vate “dry barrels,” with first element mistaken as 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. Druggie first recorded 1968. Drug-store is 1810; drug-store cowboy is 1925, Amer.Eng. slang, originally one who dressed like a Westerner but obviously wasn’t. To be a drug on or in the market (c.1661) is of doubtful connection and may be a different word, perhaps drag, which was sometimes drug c.1240-1800.

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