Skĭr'ret, n.

(Synop., § 130), n. [Contracted from skir-wort, its older name, a corruption of sugarwort, Sw. sockerrot, Dan. sukkerrod, D. suikerwortel, Ger. zuckerwurzel.] (Bot.) A plant (the Sium Sisarum), a native of China, Cochin-china, Corea, Japan, &c. It has been cultivated in Europe for the sake of its esculent root, which somewhat resembles the parsnip in flavor.