CASSAVAS
Noun
cassavas
plural of cassava
Source: Wiktionary
CASSAVA
Cas"sa*va, n. Etym: [F. cassave, Sp. cazabe, fr. kasabi, in the
language of Hayti.]
1. (Bot.)
Definition: A shrubby euphorbiaceous plant of the genus Manihot, with
fleshy rootstocks yielding an edible starch; -- called also manioc.
Note: There are two species, bitter and sweet, from which the cassava
of commerce is prepared in the West Indies, tropical America, and
Africa. The bitter (Manihot utilissima) is the more important; this
has a poisonous sap, but by grating, pressing, and baking the root
the poisonous qualities are removed. The sweet (M. Aipi) is used as a
table vegetable.
2. A nutritious starch obtained from the rootstocks of the cassava
plant, used as food and in making tapioca.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition