Salsify definition
A European plant (Tragopogon porrifolius) in the composite family, having grasslike leaves, purple flower heads, and an edible taproot.
noun
The root of this plant, eaten as a vegetable.
noun
A purple-flowered plant (Tragopogon porrifolius) of the composite family, with long, white, edible, fleshy roots having an oysterlike flavor; oyster plant.
noun
(countable, uncountable) Any of several flowering plants, of the genus Tragopogon, most of which have purple flowers.
noun
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Alternative Forms
Alternative Form of salsify -
salsafy
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
salsify
Plural:
salsifiesOrigin of salsify
- French salsifis from obsolete Italian salsefica variant (influenced by Italian salsa sauce) (or salso salted, perhaps in reference to the oysterlike flavor of its cooked roots) of sassefrica from Old Italian akin to Medieval Latin saxifraga (media) salsify perhaps Latin saxifraga maidenhair fern (for unknown reasons, since salsify does not resemble maidenhair fern) saxifrage media feminine of medium middling, ordinary
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- French salsifis.
From Wiktionary