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vegetable oyster

American  

noun

  1. salsify.


vegetable oyster British  

noun

  1. another name for salsify

"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

Etymology

Origin of vegetable oyster

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20

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.

See Examples For:

Because it has a flavor similar to that of oysters, especially when it is used for soup, it has received the name of vegetable oyster.

From Woman's Institute Library of Cookery Volume 2: Milk, Butter and Cheese; Eggs; Vegetables by Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences

Among the products of the order, may be mentioned chicory, lettuce, the artichoke, the vegetable oyster, arnica, chamomile-flowers, wormwood, absinth, elecampane, coltsfoot, taraxacum, oil of tansy, etc.

From The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits by Parsons, Mary Elizabeth

Salsify:—The "vegetable oyster," or salsify, is to my taste the most delicious root vegetable grown.

From Home Vegetable Gardening — a Complete and Practical Guide to the Planting and Care of All Vegetables, Fruits and Berries Worth Growing for Home Use by Rockwell, F. F. (Frederick Frye)

November 11th.—Now is the time to plant salsify, or the vegetable oyster, as it has been aptly named from its crustacean flavour so dear to herbaceous boarders.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 159, 1920-11-17 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

Sincerely yours,_ While cooking vegetable oyster put in the kettle a small piece of codfish.

From Favorite Dishes : a Columbian Autograph Souvenir Cookery Book by Shuman, Carrie V.

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