a West Indian herbaceous plant from which a starch is prepared.
Maranta arundinacea, family Marantaceae
the fine-grained starch obtained from the arrowroot, used in cooking and medicine.
Origin:
late 17th century: alteration of Arawak aru-aru (literally 'meal of meals') by association with arrow and root1, the tubers being used to absorb poison from arrow wounds
