sassafras
- noun
- /ˈsæsəˌfræs/
- US
- The sassafras tree is known for its aromatic leaves, which are used to make tea.
Examples
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The bark of the sassafras tree is harvested to extract valuable essential oil.
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In traditional medicine, sassafras has been used for its healing properties.
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Not goldfish, not sassafras tree, you know, kitten, you got to have the right thing to fill in that spot.
Synonyms
A North American tree with strong smelling leaves and bark used to make oil and tea
A North American tree with fragrant leaves and bark used to make oil and tea
Compounds
- Specialized
A North American tree with fragrant leaves and bark used to make oil and tea
- Australian
A tree that has leaves with a strong smell and gives hard wood for furniture
A North American tree with strong smelling leaves and bark used to make oil and tea
Surface Forms
Etymology
Sassafras came into English from the Spanish or Portuguese name sasafras, which was the name for a fragrant American tree and likely comes from a native word. Because the tree was famous for its strong smell and use in drinks and medicine, that name stayed as the name of the 'tree' today.