Căs'sa-vă, n.

(Synop., § 130), n. [Fr. cassare, Sp. casabe, cazabe, yucca de cassabe, from kasabi, in the language of Hayti.] (Bot.) A species of the manihot (M. utilissima, called by Linnæus Jatropha manihot), of the Euphorbia family;—called also the manioc plant. The juices of the root are poisonous, but by treatment with pressure, heat, and water, the poisonous qualities are removed, and the root yields a starchy substance, called cassava, much employed for food. Tapioca is purified cassava.