- cancerroot
- \\ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\ noun
Etymology: cancer + root; probably from its use in folk medicine as a cancer remedy: any of several root parasites of the family Orobanchaceae (as the squawroot)
* * *
/kan"seuhr rooht', -root'/, n.any parasitic plant of the genus Orobanche, esp. O. uniflora, of North America, having pale, leafless stalks bearing a single white or purplish flower.[1705-15; CANCER + ROOT1; so called from its folk-medicinal use in treating cancerous growths]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.