sassafras /ˈsasəfɹas/ noun4 •A tree of species Sassafras albidum of the eastern United States and Asia having mitten-shaped leaves and red, aromatic heartwood. •A tree of any species in the genus Sassafras. •The bark of the root of this plant, used for medicinal and (mostly historically) culinary purposes and formerly a main ingredient in root beer.our allowance was somewhat bettered, by a daily proportion of Bisket, which the sailers would pilfer to sell, give, or exchange with us, for money, Saxefras, furres, or love. — 1624 •(Australia) Any of various trees of the family Atherospermataceae, having aromatic bark.[W]here the gullies are fringed with blackwoods, wattle, myrtles, musks and sassafras[.] — 1951 formssassafrases
