asparagus

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: as=par=a=gus

CIDE DICTIONARY

asparagus, n. [L., fr. Gr. 'aspa`ragos, 'asfa`ragos; cf. sparga^n to swell with sap or juice, and Zend prong, sprout, Pers. asparag, Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass.].

•  A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceæ, 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.  [1913 Webster]
•  The young and tender shoots of Asparagus officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food.  [1913 Webster]

  " This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people."  [1913 Webster]

Asparagus beetle (Zoöl.), a small beetle (Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus.