salep

[ sal-ep ]

noun

1. a starchy, demulcent drug or foodstuff consisting of the dried tubers of certain orchids.

salep

/ ˈsælɛp /

noun

1. the dried ground starchy tubers of various orchids, used for food and formerly as drugs

Word History and Origins

Origin of salep¹

1730–40; < Turkish salep < dialectal Arabic saḥlab, perhaps shortened variant of Arabic khusā al-thaʿlab fox's testicles; saloop

Word History and Origins

Origin of salep¹

C18: via French and Turkish from Arabic sahlab, shortened from khusy ath-tha`lab, literally: fox's testicles, name of an orchid

Example Sentences

Tacca starch or Otaheite187 salep; from the tubers of tacca oceanica.

From Project Gutenberg

Called also salep, and salop; it was a greasy-looking beverage, sold much on stalls in the early morning.

From Project Gutenberg

Salep, sal′ep, n. the dried tubers of Orchis mascula: the food prepared from it.

From Project Gutenberg

Red Port wine was now given more freely in his medicated water; and his nourishment consisted of sago and salep.

From Project Gutenberg

If too much salep is added, it gives its peculiar flavour to the bread.

From Project Gutenberg