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.
They were living in New York and had access to plenty of health food stores, farmers markets and ethnic stores where she easily could source things such as millet and sorghum flours, arrowroot and teff.
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2023
These include everything from cornstarch and arrowroot to xanthan gum and good ol' gelatin.
From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2023
Add the egg white, arrowroot powder, ice water and salt and process until a “velvety” paste forms.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 1, 2022
When scraped, arrowroot flesh looks uncannily like snow.
From New York Times ● Jul. 2, 2021
The cook had provided a box of arrowroot cookies to go along with the tea.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
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.
