Otaheite arrowroot starch
- noun
- Archaic
- Some traditional desserts use Otaheite arrowroot starch to achieve a silky smooth texture.
Examples
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I added some Otaheite arrowroot starch to the soup for thickness.
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Pharmacists once prescribed Otaheite arrowroot starch as a soothing remedy for digestive issues.
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The import of Otaheite arrowroot starch was valuable for the local baking industry in the 19th century.
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Have you ever used Otaheite arrowroot starch in your recipes?
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Some traditional desserts use Otaheite arrowroot starch to achieve a silky smooth texture.
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I added some Otaheite arrowroot starch to the soup for thickness.
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Pharmacists once prescribed Otaheite arrowroot starch as a soothing remedy for digestive issues.
Synonyms
A fine white powder made from corn that thickens sauces and soups
A powder or liquid from plants used to make fabric stiff for ironing
A white starch that thickens sauces and desserts
A fine white powder from a plant root used to thicken food
A fine white powder from the cassava root that people use in cooking
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is fully compositional: 'arrowroot starch' clearly denotes starch made from the arrowroot plant, and the preceding proper name 'Otaheite' simply specifies a variety or origin. A B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings would therefore infer this is a particular kind of arrowroot starch used as a thickener, so the overall meaning is transparent despite the rarity of the proper name.
Etymology
Otaheite arrowroot starch comes from the root of a plant from Tahiti, once spelled Otaheite, and from arrowroot, the soft white powder made by drying and grinding that root. People used this powder to thicken food and as a mild 'medicine' for upset stomachs, so the name now means a smooth starch used in cooking and simple 'medicine'.