As*par"a*gus (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. ?, ?;
cf. ? to swell with sap or juice, and Zend ?paregha prong,
sprout, Pers. asparag, Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr.
sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf.
Sparrowgrass.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of
perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceæ, and
having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are
sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby
climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus
officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens.
2. The young and tender shoots of A.
officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of
food.
☞ This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this
pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people.
Asparagus beetle (Zoöl.), a small
beetle (Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus.