/pahr"snip/ , n.
1. a plant, Pastinaca sativa, cultivated varieties of which have a large, whitish, edible root.
2. the root of this plant.
[ 1350-1400; earlier pars ( e ) nep, pass ( e ) nep, ME pas ( t ) nep ( e ) past ( inaca ) parsnip (deriv. of pastinum forked dibble) + ME nep turnip; see NEEP ]