sarsaparilla

noun

• 1a preparation of the dried rhizomes of various plants, especially smilax, used to flavor some drinks and medicines and formerly as a tonic.
• a sweet drink flavored with sarsaparilla.

• 2the tropical American climbing plant from which sarsaparilla are generally obtained.

  • Genus Smilax, family Liliaceae: several species, in particular S. regelii, which is the chief source of commercial sarsaparilla