sarsaparilla

[ sas-puh-ril-uh, sahr-suh-puh-, sahr-spuh- ]
/ ˌsæs pəˈrɪl ə, ˌsɑr sə pə-, ˌsɑr spə- /

noun

any of various climbing or trailing tropical American plants belonging to the genus Smilax, of the lily family, having alternate leaves, umbels of flowers, and a root that has been used in the treatment of psoriasis.
the root.
an extract or other preparation made of this root.
a soft drink flavored with an extract of this root, as root beer.

Origin of sarsaparilla

1570–80; < Spanish zarzaparrilla, equivalent to zarza bush + parrilla ( parr(a) vine + -illa diminutive suffix)

Words nearby sarsaparilla

sarraute, sarrazin, sarre, sarrusophone, sars, sarsaparilla, sarsen, sarsenet, sarthe, sarto, sarton

Example sentences from the Web for sarsaparilla

British Dictionary definitions for sarsaparilla

sarsaparilla
/ (ˌsɑːsəpəˈrɪlə, ˌsɑːspə-) /

noun

any of various prickly climbing plants of the tropical American genus Smilax having large aromatic roots and heart-shaped leaves: family Smilacaceae
the dried roots of any of these plants, formerly used as a medicine
a nonalcoholic drink prepared from these roots
any of various plants resembling true sarsaparilla, esp the araliaceous plant Aralia nudicaulis (wild sarsaparilla), of North America

Word Origin for sarsaparilla

C16: from Spanish zarzaparrilla, from zarza a bramble, (from Arabic šaras) + -parrilla, from Spanish parra a climbing plant