Definition
A tropical plant (genus Smilax) whose roots were historically used to make a sweet, root-beer-like beverage popular in 19th and early 20th-century America. Once believed to have medicinal properties, sarsaparilla drinks were common at soda fountains and are still produced today as a nostalgic specialty.
Example Usage
The old-timey saloon served ice-cold sarsaparilla to the cowboys who preferred it to whiskey.
Origin
From Spanish 'zarzaparrilla', combining 'zarza' (bramble) and 'parrilla' (vine); adopted into English in the 16th century from Caribbean and South American usage
Fun Fact
Sarsaparilla was marketed as a cure for syphilis in the 1800s, though it had no actual medical effect; the placebo effect and its popularity made it a bestselling patent medicine.
Related Terms
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