An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Dragon. A large constellation that winds around the north → celestial pole, appearing to encircle → Ursa Minor. The north → ecliptic pole also lies within Draco. Abbreviation: Dra, genitive form: Draconis.

Etymology (EN): O.Fr. dragon, from L. draco “serpent, dragon,” from Gk. drakon “serpent, seafish,” from drak-, strong aorist stem of derkesthai “to see clearly,” perhaps literally “the one with the (deadly) glance,” cf. Av. darəs- “to look,” huuarə.darəsa- “having the appearance of the sun,” Skt. darś- “to see, appear, look, show,” dárśya- “worthy of being seen;” PIE base *derk- “to look.”

Etymology (PE): Eždahâ, from Mid.Pers. aždahâg, ažidahâk, from Av. aži.dahāka- “the name of an evil king in the Iranian mythology,” from aži- “serpent; dragon, monster” (Mid.Pers. až, âž, aži), cf. Skt. áhi- “snake, adder,” Gk. ékhis, óphis “snake,” L. anguis “snake,” Arm. auj, Russ. už, Lith. angis; PIE base *ang^w(h)i- “snake, worm.”
The etymology of the second component, Av. dahāka-, is a matter of discussion. It is probably related to dahaka- “stinging, tormenting,” from dah- “to sting, to do harm.”