Sassafras
/ˈsæs.ə.fræs/noun
A North American tree with aromatic bark and leaves, traditionally used in flavoring and herbal medicine.
Did you know?Sassafras was historically used to flavor root beer and was also promoted in early European herbal medicine as a supposed cure for syphilis, although those claims were unproven.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
Spanish
sassafrás
“Name for the aromatic North American tree; the ultimate source is uncertain.”
16th Century
French
sassafras
“A borrowing referring to the fragrant tree introduced from North America.”
1580s
English
sassafras
“A North American tree valued for its aromatic wood, bark, and roots.”
17th Century
English
sassafras
“The tree and its medicinally or culinary used bark and roots.”
Modern English
English
sassafras
“A deciduous tree of the genus Sassafras, especially Sassafras albidum, known for its distinctive fragrance.”