First Known Use: 1577
Dictionary
sassafras
noun sas·sa·fras \ˈsa-sə-ˌfras\
: a tall tree of eastern North America
: the dried bark from the root of the sassafras that is used in medicine and as a flavoring
Full Definition of SASSAFRAS
1
: an eastern North American tree (Sassafras albidum) of the laurel family having both ovate and lobed aromatic leaves
2
: the carcinogenic dried root bark of the sassafras used formerly as a diaphoretic or flavoring agent
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Origin of SASSAFRAS
Spanish sasafrás
Rhymes with SASSAFRAS
biogas, biomass, bottled gas, cabin class, channel bass, cocktail glass, come to pass, demitasse, dressing glass, fiberglass, forward pass, gallowglass, gravitas, Hallowmas, hippocras, isinglass, laughing gas, lemongrass, looking glass, Loveland Pass, lower-class, master class, middle-class, Montparnasse, opera glass, outlet pass, overclass, overpass, Plexiglas, Rogers Pass, ruby glass, safety glass, second-class, shovel pass, solar mass, solemn mass, superclass, tourist class, underclass, underpass, upper-class, votive mass, water glass, weatherglass, working-class
SASSAFRAS Defined for Kids
sassafras
noun sas·sa·fras \ˈsa-sə-ˌfras\
Definition of SASSAFRAS for Kids
: a tall tree of eastern North America whose dried root bark was formerly used in medicine or as a flavoring
Medical Dictionary
sassafras
noun sas·sa·fras \ˈsas-ə-ˌfras\
Medical Definition of SASSAFRAS
1
: a tall eastern North American tree (Sassafras albidum) of the laurel family (Lauraceae) with mucilaginous twigs and leaves
2
: the dried root bark of the sassafras formerly used as a diaphoretic and flavoring agent but now prohibited for use as a flavoring or food additive because of its carcinogenic properties
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