sarsaparilla
sarsaparilla Lexical Profile
sarsaparilla Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A sweet, non-alcoholic carbonated beverage traditionally flavored with the root of the Smilax vine, similar in taste and appearance to root beer.
"The cowboy walked into the saloon, bypassed the whiskey, and ordered a cold sarsaparilla."
Any of various tropical American trailing vines or shrubs of the genus Smilax, characterized by prickly stems and fragrant roots.
"The indigenous peoples of Central America historically utilized the roots of the sarsaparilla plant for medicinal purposes."
The dried roots of the Smilax vine, historically used in traditional medicine or as a flavoring agent in beverages and confections.
"The apothecary ground the dried sarsaparilla into a fine powder to create an herbal tonic."
• Rhymes for sarsaparilla
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Spanish 'zarzaparrilla', derived from 'zarza' (bramble) and 'parrilla' (little vine, a diminutive of 'parra').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.