noun

1. 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
2. the dried roots of any of these plants, formerly used in medicine
3. an extract of these roots
4. ☆ a sweetened, carbonated drink flavored with or as with sarsaparilla
5. 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