arrowroot Hear it!

arrowroot definition

arrow·root (-ro̵̅o̅t′, -ro̵ot′)

noun

  1. any of a number of tropical plants of various families with clumplike roots; esp., a West Indian plant (Maranta arundinacea) of the arrowroot family with large leaves, white flowers, and starchy roots
  2. an easily digestible starch derived from an arrowroot (esp. M. arundinacea)

Etymology: altered, from use as antidote for poisoned arrows < Arawakan aru-aru, lit., meal of meals

adjective

designating a family (Marantaceae, order Zingiberales) of monocotyledonous, tropical American plants

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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