salsify

[ sal-suh-fee ]

noun

, plural sal·si·fies.

1. a purple-flowered, composite plant, Tragopogon porrifolius, whose root has an oyster-like flavor and is used as a culinary vegetable.

salsify

/ ˈsælsɪfɪ /

noun

1. Also calledoyster plantvegetable oyster a Mediterranean plant, Tragopogon porrifolius, having grasslike leaves, purple flower heads, and a long white edible taproot: family Asteraceae (composites)
2. the root of this plant, which tastes of oysters and is eaten as a vegetable

Word History and Origins

Origin of salsify¹

1690–1700; < French salsifis, variant of sassefy, sassef ( r ) ique < Italian sassef ( r ) ica ) < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of salsify¹

C17: from French salsifis, from Italian sassefrica, from Late Latin saxifrica, from Latin saxum rock + fricāre to rub

Example Sentences

This method is especially satisfactory with new potatoes and with such vegetables as carrots, parsnips, salsify, and turnips.

From Project Gutenberg

When thus prepared, salsify lends itself to the same forms of preparation as do the other root vegetables.

From Project Gutenberg

The salsify was more cultivated a century or two ago than it is now.

From Project Gutenberg

Or, instead of mashing the salsify after boiling, some prefer to drain it, and to dip each piece in batter and fry it in hot lard.

From Project Gutenberg

Use a pint of salsify cut fine, boil until soft in a pint of water, mash and put through a sieve.

From Project Gutenberg