SARSAPARILLA

sarsaparilla

(noun) carbonated drink flavored with an extract from sarsaparilla root or with birch oil and sassafras

sarsaparilla

(noun) any of various prickly climbing plants of the tropical American genus Smilax having aromatic roots and heart-shaped leaves

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

sarsaparilla (countable and uncountable, plural sarsaparillas)

Any of various tropical (Central and South) American vines of the genus Smilax, such as Smilax regelii, which have fragrant roots.

The dried roots of these plants, or a flavoring material extracted from these roots.

A beverage (soft drink) flavored with this root, such as root beer.

Any of several North American plants, of the genus Aralia, having umbels and small white flowers.

Source: Wiktionary

Sar`sa*pa*ril"la, n. Etym: [Sp. zarzaparrilla; zarza a bramble (perhaps fr. Bisc. zartzia) + parra a vine, or Parillo, a physician said to have discovered it.] (Bot.) (a) Any plant of several tropical American species of Smilax. (b) The bitter mucilaginous roots of such plants, used in medicine and in sirups for soda, etc.

Note: The name is also applied to many other plants and their roots, especially to the Aralia nudicaulis, the wild sarsaparilla of the United States.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition