/ar"oh rooht', -root'/ , n.
1. a tropical American plant, Maranta arundinacea, the rhizomes of which yield a nutritious starch.
2. the starch itself.
3. any of several other plants yielding a similar starch.
4. the starch of these plants, used in cooking as a binder or thickener.
[ 1690-1700; so called from use of its root in treatment of wounds made by poisoned arrows ]