/ drəˈkəʊniən; NAmE -ˈkoʊ-/ adjective
( formal ) ( of a law, punishment, etc. ) extremely cruel and severe
ORIGIN: From Draco , a legislator in ancient Athens who gave severe punishments for crimes, especially the punishment of being killed.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 19th cent.: from the name of Draco (7th century BC), an Athenian legislator known for his severity + -ian .