parsley

[ pahr-slee ]

/ ˈpɑr sli /

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 pars·lied, pars·leyed. cooked or garnished with parsley: parsley potatoes.

Nearby words

parsifal, parsimonious, parsimoniously, parsimony, parsis, parsley, parsley family, parsley fern, parsley piert, parsnip, parson

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

Related formspars·ley·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for parsley

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
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
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
If you like, add in some finely chopped sweet onion and parsley.
The Perfect Burger (Sans Bun)|Deborah Krasner|November 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Even the celebrated shot of Uncle Paulie cutting garlic with a razor blade has a sprig of parsley in the foreground.
Goodfellas Turns 20|Sean Macaulay|September 21, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Always serve either cream or tomato sauce with croquettes and cutlets and garnish them with parsley or cress.
Mrs. Wilson's Cook Book|Mary A. Wilson
Parsley should be cut close to the stalks, and dried in a warm room, or on tins in a very cool oven.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,|Mary Eaton
Parsley may also be dried before it is used for this purpose, provided it must be kept for any length of time.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Arrange the fillets on a dish, pour a little of the broth over them, and add the onion and parsley.
The Cook's Decameron: A Study in Taste:|Mrs. W. G. Waters
Add to the meat some pieces of bones and "soup greens" as, for instance, celery, carrots and parsley.
The Italian Cook Book|Maria Gentile

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

Word Origin and History for parsley

parsley

14c. merger of Old English petersilie and Old French peresil (13c., Modern French persil), both from Medieval Latin petrosilium, from Latin petroselinum, from Greek petroselinon "rock-parsley," from petros "rock, stone" + selinon "celery" (see celery).

parsley

noun

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of parsley

Examples from the Web for parsley

British Dictionary definitions for parsley

parsley

noun

Word Origin for parsley

Word Origin and History for parsley

parsley