Cassava
(Cas"sa*va) n. [F. cassave, Sp. cazabe, fr. kasabi, in the language of Haiti.]
1. (Bot.) A shrubby euphorbiaceous plant of the genus Manihot, with fleshy rootstocks yielding an
edible starch; — called also manioc.
There are two species, bitter and sweet, from which the cassava of commerce is prepared in the West
Indies, tropical America, and Africa. The bitter (Manihot utilissima) is the more important; this has a poisonous
sap, but by grating, pressing, and baking the root the poisonous qualities are removed. The sweet (M.
Aipi) is used as a table vegetable.
2. A nutritious starch obtained from the rootstocks of the cassava plant, used as food and in making
tapioca.
Casse Paper
(Cas"se Pa"per) [F. papier cassé. See Cass.] Broken paper; the outside quires of a ream.
Casserole
(Cas"se*role) (#) n. [F. a saucepan, dim. from casse a basin.]
1. (Chem.) A small round dish with a handle, usually of porcelain.
2. (Cookery) A mold (in the shape of a hollow vessel or incasement) of boiled rice, mashed potato or
paste, baked, and afterwards filled with vegetables or meat.
Cassia
(Cas"sia) n. [L. cassia and casia, Gr. kassi`a and kasi`a; of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. qetsiah,
fr. qatsa' to cut off, to peel off.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of leguminous plants (herbs, shrubs, or trees) of many species, most of which have
purgative qualities. The leaves of several species furnish the senna used in medicine.
2. The bark of several species of Cinnamomum grown in China, etc.; Chinese cinnamon. It is imported
as cassia, but commonly sold as cinnamon, from which it differs more or less in strength and flavor,
and the amount of outer bark attached.
The medicinal "cassia" (Cassia pulp) is the laxative pulp of the pods of a leguminous tree (Cassia fistula
or Pudding-pipe tree), native in the East Indies but naturalized in various tropical countries.
Cassia bark, the bark of Cinnamomum cassia, etc. The coarser kinds are called Cassia lignea, and
are often used to adulterate true cinnamon. — Cassia buds, the dried flower buds of several species
of cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia, atc..). — Cassia oil, oil extracted from cassia bark and cassia
buds; — called also oil of cinnamon.
Cassican
(Cas"si*can) n. [NL. cassicus helmeted, fr. L. cassis a belmet.] (Zoöl.) An American bird
of the genus Cassicus, allied to the starlings and orioles, remarkable for its skillfully constructed and
suspended nest; the crested oriole. The name is also sometimes given to the piping crow, an Australian
bird.
