Sassafras

sassafras
    n 1: yellowwood tree with brittle wood and aromatic leaves and
         bark; source of sassafras oil; widely distributed in
         eastern North America [syn: {sassafras}, {sassafras tree},
         {Sassafras albidum}]
    2: dried root bark of the sassafras tree
    

Sassafras \Sas"sa*fras\, n. [F. sassafras (cf. It. sassafrasso,
   sassafras, Sp. sasafras, salsafras, salsifrax, salsifragia,
   saxifragia), fr. L. saxifraga saxifrage. See {Saxifrage}.]
   (Bot.)
   An American tree of the Laurel family ({Sassafras
   officinale}); also, the bark of the roots, which has an
   aromatic smell and taste.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Australian sassafras}, a lofty tree ({Doryophora Sassafras})
      with aromatic bark and leaves.

   {Chilian sassafras}, an aromatic tree ({Laurelia
      sempervirens}).

   {New Zealand sassafras}, a similar tree ({Laurelia Novae
      Zelandiae}).

   {Sassafras nut}. See {Pichurim bean}.

   {Swamp sassafras}, the sweet bay ({Magnolia glauca}). See
      {Magnolia}.
      [1913 Webster]