Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DRUG, n. [Fr. drogue; Arm. droguerezou; Sp. Port. and It. droga. In Dutch, droogery is a drug and a drying place, so that drug is a dry substance, and from the root of dry. Junius supposes it to have signified, originally, spices or aromatic plants. See the verb, to dry.]

1. The general name of substances used in medicine, sold by the druggist, and compounded by apothecaries and physicians; any substance, vegetable, animal or mineral, which is used in the composition or preparation medicines. It is also applied to dyeing materials.
2. Any commodity that lies on hand, or is not salable; an article of slow sale, or in no demand in the market.
3. A mortal drug, or a deadly drug, is poison.
4. A drudge. [Scot. drug.] – Shak.