the dried strong-scented root of the wild ginger plant: a flavouring agent and source of an aromatic oil used in perfumery, formerly used in medicine
Word origin
C19: via New Latin from Latin: hazelwort, from Greek asaron
asarum in American English
(ˈæsərəm)
noun
the dried rhizomes and roots of certain wild ginger plants (esp. Asarum canadense), from which an aromatic oil used in perfumery and flavorings is extracted