Salsify SAL'SIFY, n. Goat's beard, a plant of the genus Tragopogon.

salsify n 1: edible root of the salsify plant [syn: salsify, oyster plant}] 2: Mediterranean biennial herb with long-stemmed heads of purple ray flowers and milky sap and long edible root; naturalized throughout United States [syn: salsify, oyster plant, vegetable oyster, Tragopogon porrifolius] 3: either of two long roots eaten cooked

salsify 1675, from Fr. salsifis, from It. erba salsifica, of uncertain origin, perhaps from L. sal "salt" + fricare "to rub."

salsify noun (plural -fies) Etymology: French salsifis, from Italian salsefica, sassefrica Date: circa 1706 a European biennial composite herb (Tragopogon porrifolius) with a long fusiform edible root — called also oyster plant, vegetable oyster

salsify
n. (pl. -ies)
1 a European plant, Tragopogon porrifolius, with long cylindrical fleshy roots.
2 this root used as a vegetable.
Phrases and idioms:
black salsify scorzonera.
Etymology: F salsifis f. obs. It. salsefica, of unkn. orig.

salsify ˈsælsɪfɪ n. (pl. -ies) 1 a European plant, Tragopogon porrifolius, with long cylindrical fleshy roots. 2 this root used as a vegetable. øblack salsify scorzonera. [F salsifis f. obs. It. salsefica, of unkn. orig.]

Salsify \Sal"si*fy\ (?; 277), n. [F. salsifis.] (Bot.) See Oyster plant (a), under Oyster.

salsify n. See salsafy

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