Sassafras

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sassafras \Sas"sa*fras\, n. [F. sassafras (cf. It. sassafrasso,
     sassafras, Sp. sasafras, salsafras, salsifrax, salsifragia,
     saxifragia), fr. L. saxifraga saxifrage. See {Saxifrage}.]
     (Bot.)
     An American tree of the Laurel family ({Sassafras
     officinale}); also, the bark of the roots, which has an


     aromatic smell and taste.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Australian sassafras}, a lofty tree ({Doryophora Sassafras})
        with aromatic bark and leaves.
  
     {Chilian sassafras}, an aromatic tree ({Laurelia
        sempervirens}).
  
     {New Zealand sassafras}, a similar tree ({Laurelia Novae
        Zelandiae}).
  
     {Sassafras nut}. See {Pichurim bean}.
  
     {Swamp sassafras}, the sweet bay ({Magnolia glauca}). See
        {Magnolia}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sassafras
       n 1: yellowwood tree with brittle wood and aromatic leaves and
            bark; source of sassafras oil; widely distributed in
            eastern North America [syn: {sassafras tree}, {Sassafras
            albidum}]
       2: dried root bark of the sassafras tree