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sassafras

(sas′ə fras′)

☆

noun

a small E North American tree (Sassafras albidum) of the laurel family, having an aromatic bark, leaves with usually two or three fingerlike lobes, and small, bluish fruits
the dried root bark of this tree, used as a flavoring agent and yielding safrole

Origin: Sp sasafras < ? earlier sassifragia, saxifrage

See sassafras in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A deciduous eastern North American tree (Sassafras albidum) having irregularly lobed leaves and aromatic bark, leaves, and branches.
The dried root bark of this plant, used as a flavoring and a source of a volatile oil.

Origin:

Origin: Spanish sasafrás

Origin: , from Late Latin saxifragia, kind of herb

Origin: , variant of (herba) saxifraga, saxifrage; see saxifrage

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