from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Asparagus \As*par"a*gus\ ([a^]s*p[a^]r"[.a]*g[u^]s), n. [L., fr.
Gr. 'aspa`ragos, 'asfa`ragos; cf. sparga^n to swell with sap
or juice, and Zend [,c]paregha prong, sprout, Pers. asparag,
Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek
borrowed from the Persian. Cf. {Sparrowgrass}.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants belonging to the
natural order {Liliace[ae]}, and having erect much
branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are
sometimes mistaken for leaves. {Asparagus racemosus} is a
shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers.
Specifically: The {Asparagus officinalis}, a species
cultivated in gardens.
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2. The young and tender shoots of {Asparagus officinalis},
which form a valuable and well-known article of food.
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Note: This word was formerly pronounced {sparrowgrass}; but
this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to
uneducated people.
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{Asparagus beetle} (Zool.), a small beetle ({Crioceris
asparagi}) injurious to asparagus.
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