sassafras

plural sassafrases · alternative saxefras · alternative sassafrass

1. countableA tree of species Sassafras albidum of the eastern United States and Asia having mitten-shaped leaves and red, aromatic heartwood.

   Synonyms: red sassafras, silky sassafras, white sassafras

2. countableA tree of any species in the genus Sassafras.
3. uncountableThe bark of the root of this plant, used for medicinal and (mostly historically) culinary purposes and formerly a main ingredient in root beer.

   our allowance was somewhat bettered, by a daily proportion of Bisket, which the sailers would pilfer to sell, give, or exchange with us, for money, Saxefras, furres, or love.

   1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 82

   Synonyms: cinnamonwood

4. AustraliacountableAny of various trees of the family Atherospermataceae, having aromatic bark.

   [W]here the gullies are fringed with blackwoods, wattle, myrtles, musks and sassafras[.]

   1951, Ambrose Pratt, The Lore of the Lyrebird, Melbourne: Robertson and Mullens, page 58

1. A locality in the Shoalhaven council area, eastern New South Wales, Australia.
2. A locality in Latrobe council area and the Meander Valley council area, northern Tasmania, Australia.
3. A locality in the City of Knox and the Shire of Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia.