Salsify

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈsælsɪfi/

Definitions

1. A type of edible plant known for its long, tuberous roots which are used in various dishes
2. An herbaceous vegetable featuring a parsnip-like root that can be prepared in numerous ways
3. A flowering plant cultivated for its edible roots that resemble parsnips and are utilized in a variety of culinary preparations

Etymology: Salsify is borrowed from French "salsifis," and the French word has an older Italian relative. The root vegetable itself is a member of the daisy family, cultivated for its long, tapering taproot, which resembles a pale parsnip. Its name points back to the Latin "saxifraga" ("stone-breaker"), a term that has also given English the plant saxifrage, and the French form was reshaped along the way. Salsify is sometimes called the "oyster plant," because cooked roots were said to taste faintly of oysters. That comparison explains one of its common English nicknames, though the flavour is closer to artichoke or a mild root vegetable than to seafood.

Synonyms: oyster plant, vegetable, root