parsley

[pahr-slee] /ˈpɑr sli/

noun

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.

the leaves of this plant, used to garnish or season food.

any of certain allied or similar plants.

adjective

Also, parslied, parsleyed. cooked or garnished with parsley:

parsley potatoes.

Origin

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-, celery

Related forms

parsleylike, adjective

Examples from the web for parsley

Four of the herbal mixes contained relatives of parsley.
Spoon a ladleful of soup over the fish, and sprinkle parsley over both fish and soup.
Distribute prunes over duck, pour liquid on top, sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and torn parsley.
Serve on a napkin, ends towards centre of dish, and garnish with parsley.
Garnish with tomatoes cut in halves and broiled, and parsley.
Add parsley to the mix and stir well so that all ingredients distribute evenly.
Vesuvian, they bubble and smoke in a magma of astringent garlic butter and parsley.
His combination of meat drippings, olive oil and fresh parsley mixed directly on the cutting board is better than any sauce.
In winter, sturdy parsley and rich walnuts stand in.
Pitas, olive oil or butter, garlic salt and dried parsley.

British Dictionary definitions for parsley

parsley

/ˈpɑːslɪ/

noun

a S European umbelliferous plant, Petroselinum crispum, widely cultivated for its curled aromatic leaves, which are used in cooking

any of various similar and related plants, such as fool's-parsley, stone parsley, and cow parsley

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for parsley

14c. merger of Old English petersilie and Old French peresil (13c., Modern French persil), both from Medieval Latin petrosilium, from Latin petroselinum, from Greek petroselinon "rock-parsley," from petros "rock, stone" + selinon "celery" (see celery).

parsley in Technology

A Pascal extension for construction of parse trees, by Barber of Summit Software. It features Iterators.
["PARSLEY: A New Compiler-Compiler", in Software Development Tools, Techniques and Alternatives, Arlington VA, Jul 1983, pp.232-241].
(1995-02-22)