sarsaparilla
sarsaparilla
Definition
sar·sa·pa·rilla (sas′pə ril′ə, särs′-; sär′sə-)
noun
- any of a number of tropical American, spiny, woody vines (genus Smilax) of the lily family, with large, fragrant roots and toothed, heart-shaped leaves
- the dried roots of any of these plants, formerly used in medicine
- an extract of these roots
- ☆ a sweetened, carbonated drink flavored with or as with sarsaparilla
- any of several North American plants resembling sarsaparilla; esp., a woodland plant, wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) of the ginseng family
Etymology: Sp zarzaparrilla < zarza, bramble + parrilla, dim. of parra, vine
