orris root

noun

or·​ris root ˈȯr-əs- 

ˈär-

variants or less commonly orris

ˈȯr-əs 

ˈär-

: the fragrant rootstock of any of three European irises (Iris florentina, I. germanica, and I. pallida) used especially in perfumery

Examples of orris root in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Harmony also uses a botanical mixture of juniper berries, coriander seed, hyssop, lemon peel, lime peel, angelica root, and orris root to define its flavor. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2023

Here’s a sour golden ale laced with juniper berries, orange peel, dried rose petals, orris root and angelica root, all aged in oak barrels. —Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023

Meant to be reminiscent of inspirational voyages, the juice tells that story with green mandarin, incense, amber, orris root, tobacco leaves, oud, suede and smoked musk. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021

This is an Old Tom-style gin that is infused with 10 botanicals: honey, juniper, hibiscus, coriander, honey malt, Szechuan peppercorn, orris root, orange peel, lemon peel and angelica root. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2022

In this fragrance’s heart are spicy and warm notes of nutmeg, pimento and orris root. —Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Nov. 2022

The distillery also uses orris root, cinnamon, goldenrod, licorice, Persian lime, angelica, coriander, bitter orange peel, and lemon peel in its botanical blend. —Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 19 July 2022

Beefeater uses seven botanicals in their gin recipe: juniper, angelica seeds and root, coriander seeds, Seville orange peel, lemon peel, licorice, almonds and orris root. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022

The brand’s scents are named for cities, from Amsterdam, which combines a note of the city’s tulips and rain with a warmer base of woods and spice, to Bukhara in Uzbekistan, a homage to the ancient silk road centered on orris root. —Alexander Freeling, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

orris, earlier oreys, arras, probably altered from Latin īris iris entry 1, though alteration of vowels is unexplained

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

orris root

noun

or·​ris root ˈȯr-əs-ˌrüt, ˈär-əs-, -ˌru̇t 

: the fragrant rootstock of any of three European irises (Iris pallida, I. florentina, and I. germanica) used in pulverized form in perfumery and pharmacology

called also orris