parsley

(pärs)

noun

a cultivated plant (Petroselinum hortense) of the umbel family, with greenish-yellow flowers and aromatic, often curled leaves used to flavor or garnish some foods

Origin: ME parseli < OE petersilie & OFr persil, both < VL *petrosilium < L petroselinum < Gr petroselinon, rock parsley < petros, stone + selinon, celery

See parsley in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. pars·leys
  1. A member of the parsley family.
  2. a. A cultivated Eurasian herb (Petroselinum crispum) having flat or curled, ternately compound leaves.
    b. The leaves of this plant used as a seasoning or garnish.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English persely

Origin: , from Old English petersilie

Origin: and Old French persil

Origin: , both ultimately from Late Latin petrosillum

Origin: , alteration of Latin petroselīnum

Origin: , from Greek petroselīnon

Origin: : petrā, rock; see per-2 in Indo-European roots

Origin: + selīnon, celery

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parsley

common ( left ) and Italian parsley ( right )

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