sal·si·fy
(săl′sə-fē, -fī′)n. pl. sal·si·fies
1. A European plant (Tragopogon porrifolius) in the composite family, having grasslike leaves, purple flower heads, and an edible taproot.
2. The root of this plant, eaten as a vegetable. In both senses also called oyster plant, vegetable oyster.
[French salsifis, from obsolete Italian salsefica, variant (influenced by Italian salsa, sauce, or salso, salted, perhaps in reference to the oysterlike flavor of its cooked roots) of sassefrica, from Old Italian; akin to Medieval Latin saxifraga (media), salsify : perhaps Latin saxifraga, maidenhair fern (for unknown reasons, since salsify does not resemble maidenhair fern); see saxifrage + media, feminine of medium, middling, ordinary.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
salsify
(ˈsælsɪfɪ)n, pl -fies
1. (Cookery) Also called: oyster plant or vegetable oyster a Mediterranean plant, Tragopogon porrifolius, having grasslike leaves, purple flower heads, and a long white edible taproot: family Asteraceae (composites)
2. (Plants) the root of this plant, which tastes of oysters and is eaten as a vegetable
[C17: from French salsifis, from Italian sassefrica, from Late Latin saxifrica, from Latin saxum rock + fricāre to rub]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sal•si•fy
(ˈsæl sə fi)n., pl. -fies.
a purple-flowered composite plant, Tragopogon porrifolius, whose root has an oysterlike flavor. Also called oyster plant, vegetable oyster.
[1690–1700; < French salsifis, variant of sassefy, sassef(r)ique < Italian sassef(r)ica]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  salsify - edible root of the salsify plant Tragopogon porrifolius, vegetable oyster, oyster plant, salsify - Mediterranean biennial herb with long-stemmed heads of purple ray flowers and milky sap and long edible root; naturalized throughout United States root - (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground |
| 2. |  salsify - Mediterranean biennial herb with long-stemmed heads of purple ray flowers and milky sap and long edible root; naturalized throughout United Statesvegetable oyster, oyster plant - long white salsify genus Tragopogon, Tragopogon - genus of Old World herbs with linear entire leaves and yellow or purple flower heads oyster plant, salsify - edible root of the salsify plant herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests | |
| 3. | salsify - either of two long roots eaten cooked root vegetable - any of various fleshy edible underground roots or tubers vegetable oyster, oyster plant - long white salsify black salsify, scorzonera - long black salsify |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
salsify
n → Schwarzwurzel f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
salsify
[ˈsælsɪfɪ] n (Bot) → salseficaCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995