Main Entry: sas·sa·fras

Pronunciation: \ˈsa-sə-ˌfras\

Function: noun

Etymology: Spanish sasafrás

Date: 1577

1 : an eastern North American tree (Sassafras albidum) of the laurel family having both ovate and lobed aromatic leaves
2 : the carcinogenic dried root bark of the sassafras used formerly as a diaphoretic or flavoring agent