parsley

[ pahr-slee ]

noun

1. an herb, Pertoselinum crispum, native to the Mediterranean, having either curled leaf clusters French parsley or flat compound leaves Italian parsley, widely cultivated for use in garnishing or seasoning food. Compare parsley family.
2. the leaves of this plant, used to garnish or season food.
3. any of certain allied or similar plants.

adjective

1. Also parslied, parsleyed. cooked or garnished with parsley:

   parsley potatoes.

parsley

/ ˈpɑːslɪ /

noun

1. a S European umbelliferous plant, Petroselinum crispum, widely cultivated for its curled aromatic leaves, which are used in cooking
2. any of various similar and related plants, such as fool's-parsley, stone parsley, and cow parsley

Other Words From

• parsley·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parsley¹

before 1000; Middle English persely, blend of Old English petersilie and Old French persil; both < Late Latin *petrosilium, alteration of Latin petroselīnum < Greek petrosélīnon rock-parsley. See petro- ¹, celery

Word History and Origins

Origin of parsley¹

C14 persely, from Old English petersilie + Old French persil, peresil, both ultimately from Latin petroselīnum rock parsley, from Greek petroselinon, from petra rock + selinon parsley

Example Sentences

Add a very light sprinkling of fresh parsley and a few finely chopped green onions to finish if desired.

From Salon

"Stinging nettles are a come again plant. Cow parsley, sorrel too. Strangely you can pick a lot of salads now," he says.

From BBC

Traditionally, it consisted of a savoury pie filled with minced beef, served with mashed potatoes and a parsley liquor.

From BBC

I also have a deep love for fresh herbs in my salads — coriander, dill, chives, parsley, oregano, thyme, rosemary and many others.

From Salon

And a final sprinkling of fresh parsley is all the green you need for this elegant salad to taste even fresher.

From Salon