Sassafras
/ˈsæs.ə.fræs/noun
A North American tree whose aromatic leaves and bark were historically used for flavoring and traditional remedies.
Did you know?Sassafras tea was once promoted as a “blood purifier,” but its safrole content led to restrictions because safrole is associated with carcinogenicity in laboratory studies.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
Indigenous North American languages
Uncertain
“The tree had established Indigenous names and uses, but the precise source of the European word sassafras has not been securely identified.”
Late 16th Century
Spanish
sasafrás / sassafrás
“A Spanish name for the North American aromatic tree, recorded during the early period of European exploration and colonization.”
1590s
English
sassafras
“English adoption of the Spanish plant name for the North American tree.”
17th Century
English
sassafras
“The bark and roots became commercial medicinal and flavoring commodities, especially in infusions and beverages.”
Modern English
English
sassafras
“The common name for Sassafras albidum and, by extension, its distinctive aromatic bark, leaves, or flavor.”