[?s?:s(?)p?'r?l?]
¦ noun
1. a preparation of the dried rhizomes of various plants, especially smilax, used to flavour some drinks and medicines and formerly as a tonic.
a sweet drink flavoured with this.
2. the tropical American climbing plant from which these rhizomes are obtained. [Smilax regelii and other species.]
Origin
C16: from Sp. zarzaparilla, from zarza 'bramble' + a dimin. of parra 'vine'.