parsley

[ pahr-slee ]

/ ˈpɑr sli /

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noun

an herb, Pertoselinum crispum, native to the Mediterranean, having either curled leaf clusters (French parsley ) or flat compound leaves (Italian parsley ), widely cultivated for use in garnishing or seasoning food.Compare parsley family.

the leaves of this plant, used to garnish or season food.

any of certain allied or similar plants.

adjective

Also parslied, parsleyed . cooked or garnished with parsley: parsley potatoes.

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Origin of parsley

before 1000; Middle English persely, blend of Old English petersilie and Old French persil; both <Late Latin *petrosilium, alteration of Latin petroselīnum<Greek petrosélīnon rock-parsley. See petro-¹, celery

OTHER WORDS FROM parsley

pars·ley·like, adjective

Words nearby parsley

Parsifal, parsimonious, parsimony, parsing, pars intermedia, parsley, parsley family, parsley fern, parsley piert, parsnip, parson

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

How to use parsley in a sentence

The best dishes would be nothing if it were not for that hint of cilantro or parsley.
These 6 tools will up your gardening game this summer|Quinn Gawronski|July 18, 2021|Popular-Science
Adjust the acidity and sweetness and top with chopped parsley, if desired, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
A crispy cauliflower recipe with lemon-mustard dressing proves a cutlet is what you make of it|Daniela Galarza|May 13, 2021|Washington Post
With tender greens such as spinach or herbs such as parsley and cilantro, don’t even bother stripping.
Cut waste and boost flavor with skin-to-seed recipes that use the whole vegetable|Joe Yonan|April 23, 2021|Washington Post
They are baked in a hot oven until the bread is crisped, the cheese is melted and the fragrance of the herbs is unleashed, before the whole mess gets showered with fresh parsley.
Chickpeas, tomatoes and za’atar are the stars of this fun pizza on a pita|Ellie Krieger|April 22, 2021|Washington Post

Grind the toasted seeds into a powder, and mince the parsley and cilantro stems.
I Tried Going Zero-Waste. Here’s What Happened.|Kayla Stewart|April 15, 2021|Outside Online
Rub pork loin with paprika, Cajun seasoning, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, sugar, salt, and pepper.
Epic Meal Empire’s Meat Monstrosities: From the Bacon Spider to the Cinnabattleship|Harley Morenstein|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This fresh parsley sauce goes well with most grilled meats and fish.
Fresh Picks|Chris Rendell|October 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Spoon the rice into the center of the gumbo, and sprinkle each serving with green onions and parsley.
5 Iconic Recipes From an Iconic Chef|Emeril Lagasse|May 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
In a cup, mix the lemon juice, the raw garlic and the chopped parsley and pour on the sizzling shakshuka when serving.
An Israeli Independence Day Menu|Naama Shefi|May 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Finish with a salad of frisee, chives, parsley, tarragon and chervil lightly dressed with the vinaigrette.
Fresh Picks|Ben Pollinger|February 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Picnic baskets from which the salt has been omitted may be shredded over the surface instead of parsley.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 152, May 16, 1917.|Various
Babette was just offering him some boiled trout, which she herself must have garnished with parsley, it looked so dainty.
Rudy and Babette|Hans Christian Andersen
Sprinkle a little chopped parsley and serve in a deep dish without a cover, as the steam must not be kept in.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis
Chop some mushrooms, chives, and parsley; mix these in the broth in which the ducks were braised.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis
Turn out and decorate the base with chopped aspic, truffles, parsley, and tomatoes.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis

British Dictionary definitions for parsley

parsley

/ (ˈpɑːslɪ) /

noun

a S European umbelliferous plant, Petroselinum crispum, widely cultivated for its curled aromatic leaves, which are used in cooking

any of various similar and related plants, such as fool's-parsley, stone parsley, and cow parsley

Word Origin for parsley

C14 persely, from Old English petersilie + Old French persil, peresil, both ultimately from Latin petroselīnum rock parsley, from Greek petroselinon, from petra rock + selinon parsley

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