a Mediterranean plant, Tragopogon porrifolius, having grasslike leaves, purple flower heads, and a long white edible taproot: family Asteraceae (composites)
2.
the root of this plant, which tastes of oysters and is eaten as a vegetable
Word origin
C17: from French salsifis, from Italian sassefrica, from Late Latin saxifrica, from Latin saxum rock + fricāre to rub
salsify in American English
(ˈsælsəˌfi; ˈsælsəˌfaɪ)
noun
a purple-flowered plant (Tragopogon porrifolius) of the composite family, with long, white, edible, fleshy roots having an oysterlike flavor; oyster plant
Word origin
Fr salsifis < It sassefrica < ?
Examples of 'salsify' in a sentence
salsify
Lay the salsify at one edge of the pastry and roll very tightly.