Arrowroot Definition

ărō-ro͝ot, -ro͝ot
noun
A starch obtained from the rhizomes of a tropical American perennial herb (Maranta arundinacea). It is used especially in cooking as a thickener.
American Heritage
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.
Webster's New World
The rhizome of this plant, cooked and eaten as a vegetable or used for starch extraction.
American Heritage
An easily digestible starch derived from an arrowroot (esp. M. arundinacea)
Webster's New World
The plant itself.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
  • Canna edulis
  • Canna indica
  • indian shot
  • achira
  • Maranta arundinaceae
  • obedience plant
  • American arrowroot
adjective
Designating a family (Marantaceae, order Zingiberales) of monocotyledonous, tropical American plants.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Arrowroot

Noun

Singular:
arrowroot
Plural:
arrowroots

Origin of Arrowroot

  • By folk etymology from Arawak aru-aru meal of meals (from its being used to draw poison from arrow wounds)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • arrow +‎ root, from being used on wounds from poison darts to absorb the poison.

    From Wiktionary

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