cascara

[ kas-kair-uh ]

/ kæsˈkɛər ə /

Save This Word!

noun

a shrub, Rhamnus purshiana (or Frangula purshiana), of the buckthorn family, of the Pacific coast of the United States, having finely toothed leaves and flowers in umbels and yielding cascara sagrada.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also called cascara buckthorn, bearberry, chittamwood.

Origin of cascara

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; from Spanish cáscara “bark,” perhaps akin to cascar “to crack,” ultimately derived from unattested Vulgar Latin quassicāre, equivalent to Latin quass(āre) “to shatter” (see quash) + -icā- formative verb suffix + -re infinitive ending

Words nearby cascara

cascade particle, Cascade Range, Cascades, Cascadia, cascading style sheet, cascara, cascara sagrada, cascarilla, Casco Bay, case, casease

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cascara in a sentence

"We're having trouble with that last lot of cascara, sir," said he lugubriously.
The Clarion|Samuel Hopkins Adams
If constipation is the habit a laxative should be given; the aromatic fluid extract of cascara sagrada or magnesia are suitable.
The Eugenic Marriage, Volume IV. (of IV.)|Grant Hague
Aromatic cascara sagrada in from ten to thirty-drop doses is a very good laxative, if a stronger remedy is needed.
The Eugenic Marriage, Volume IV. (of IV.)|Grant Hague
Take a dose of epsom salts, castor oil, or cascara sagrada, then regulate your diet.
Supreme Personality|Delmer Eugene Croft

Don Miguel read my letters of recommendation, and re-read the letter of General Cascara.
With the World's Great Travellers, Volume 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for cascara

cascara

/ (kæsˈkɑːrə) /

noun

See cascara sagrada

Also called: cascara buckthorn, bearwood a shrub or small tree, Rhamnus purshiana of NW North America, whose bark is a source of cascara sagrada: family Rhamnaceae

Word Origin for cascara

C19: from Spanish: bark, from cascar to break, from Vulgar Latin quassicāre (unattested) to shake violently, shatter, from Latin quassāre to dash to pieces

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012