orrisroot

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the dried, fragrant rhizome of certain irises, especially Iris pallida and Iris germanica

   The apothecary stored sliced orrisroot in a tightly sealed jar.

2. 2
   noun

   powder or extract made from this rhizome and used in perfumery, potpourri, flavoring, and traditional medicine

   A small amount of orrisroot fixed the violet fragrance in the sachet.

A compound of orris + root. Orris is probably an altered form of iris, the plant whose aged rhizome develops a violetlike fragrance. The solid spelling orrisroot and the historical hyphenated orris-root occur alongside the now common open compound orris root.

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