a tropical American plant with fleshy roots which yield a nutritive starch that is used as a thickening agent in cooking
a tropical American plant with fleshy roots: Maranta arundinacea
a nutritive starch obtained from this plant, used esp as a thickening agent in cooking
[alteration of Arawak aru-aru meal of meals, under the influence of arrow1 and root1, its tubers being used by Native Americans to heal wounds from poisoned arrows]