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