Hi. It would be indeed fenomenal if the name "dracul" would have passed into Romanian without going through a "serpent" phase - since every cognate it has in other languages has kept the "serpent" meaning and only it. This is also backed by the fact that, as a more literal representation of the devil, we have and have had "diavol". I have read about this initial meaning in numerous contexts, but I have never bothered to actually note precisely where. Mind you, I'm not saying I am 100% right: it's just that a consensus seems to have reached on this topic. I think User:Bogdangiusca may have a source on this topic, since he seems to be interested and well-versed in old and alternative words in Romanian. Dahn 16:45, 21 June 2006 (UTC)