/skir"it/ , n.
a plant, Sium sisarum, of the parsley family, cultivated in Europe for its edible tuberous root.
[ 1300-50; ME skirwhite lit., pure white ( skir skirr clear, pure; c. OE scir ); alter., by folk etym., of MF scherwitz, unexplained var. of OF carvi CARAWAY ]