arrowroot
Americannoun
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a tropical American plant, Maranta arundinacea, the rhizomes of which yield a nutritious starch.
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the starch itself.
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any of several other plants yielding a similar starch.
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the starch of these plants, used in cooking as a binder or thickener.
noun
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a white-flowered West Indian plant, Maranta arundinacea, whose rhizomes yield an easily digestible starch: family Marantaceae
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the starch obtained from this plant
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any of several other plants whose rhizomes or roots yield starch
Etymology
Origin of arrowroot
First recorded in 1690–1700; so called from use of its root in treatment of wounds made by poisoned arrows
Explanation
Arrowroot is a plant that's used to make a cooking starch also called arrowroot. Some soups and puddings are thickened with arrowroot. The plant known as arrowroot has small white flowers and fruit that resembles currants. Arrowroot is primarily grown for its root, though, which is washed, peeled, and beaten until all the starchy liquid comes out. When this liquid dries completely, it's the white powder you can find in the supermarket labeled arrowroot. The name allegedly comes from an old medicinal use of arrowroot, drawing poison from dart or arrow wounds.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Many vegan ice cream recipes call for added starch, like arrowroot powder or cornstarch, but oat creamer, a relative newcomer to the alternative milk market, eliminates this need.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 26, 2022
Cornstarch is naturally gluten-free, but you can also use arrowroot starch/powder, which will create a super fine, super smooth sugar.
From Salon • Feb. 14, 2022
Add the egg white, arrowroot powder, ice water and salt and process until a “velvety” paste forms.
From Washington Post • Feb. 1, 2022
He saw unfamiliar shapes in the waves: tresses waving at the surface, animals that dove to great depths and seas of pia, the Polynesian name for the white tuber called arrowroot.
From New York Times • Jul. 2, 2021
“Be-lah-belah-belah-belah!” said Barbara, crooning gently as she continued to eat her arrowroot biscuit.
From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
