sparrowgrass

sparrowgrass
Asparagus As*par"a*gus ([a^]s*p[a^]r"[.a]*g[u^]s), n. [L., fr. Gr. 'aspa`ragos, 'asfa`ragos; cf. sparga^n to swell with sap or juice, and Zend [,c]paregha prong, sprout, Pers. asparag, Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. {Sparrowgrass}.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order {Liliace[ae]}, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. {Asparagus racemosus} is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The {Asparagus officinalis}, a species cultivated in gardens. [1913 Webster]

2. The young and tender shoots of {Asparagus officinalis}, which form a valuable and well-known article of food. [1913 Webster]

Note: This word was formerly pronounced {sparrowgrass}; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people. [1913 Webster]

{Asparagus beetle} (Zo["o]l.), a small beetle ({Crioceris asparagi}) injurious to asparagus. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sparrowgrass — Spar row*grass , n. [Corrupted from asparagus.] Asparagus. [Colloq.] See the Note under {Asparagus}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sparrowgrass — [spar′ō gras΄, spar′ōgräs΄] n. [altered by folk etym. < ASPARAGUS] dial. var. of ASPARAGUS …   English World dictionary

  • sparrowgrass — /spar oh gras , grahs /, n. Informal. asparagus. [1650 60; by folk etymology] * * * …   Universalium

  • sparrowgrass — noun Asparagus …   Wiktionary

  • Sparrowgrass — asparagus …   Dictionary of Australian slang

  • sparrowgrass — Australian Slang asparagus …   English dialects glossary

  • sparrowgrass — n. asparagus …   English contemporary dictionary

  • sparrowgrass — spar·row·grass …   English syllables

  • sparrowgrass — spar•row•grass [[t]ˈspær oʊˌgræs, ˌgrɑs[/t]] n. pln inf asparagus • Etymology: 1650–60; by folk etym …   From formal English to slang

  • sparrowgrass — /ˈspæroʊgras/ (say sparohgrahs) noun Colloquial (humorous) asparagus …  

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