from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Parsnip \Pars"nip\ (p[aum]rs"n[i^]p), n. [OE. parsnepe, from a
French form, fr. L. pastinaca; cf. pastinare to dig up,
pastinum a kind of dibble; cf. OF. pastenade, pastenaque.]
(Bot.)
The aromatic and edible spindle-shaped root of the cultivated
form of the {Pastinaca sativa}, a biennial umbelliferous
plant which is very poisonous in its wild state; also, the
plant itself.
[1913 Webster]
{Cow parsnip}. See {Cow parsnip}.
{Meadow parsnip}, the European cow parsnip.
{Poison parsnip}, the wild stock of the parsnip.
{Water parsnip}, any plant of the umbelliferous genus {Sium},
the species of which are poisonous.
[1913 Webster]