Forms: α. 6–7 casavi, 7–9 cassavi, cassavy, -vie, -via, (cacavi); β. 7 cazava, 7–9 cassava, 8–9 casava; 7. 8–9 cassave; see also CASSADA, [In F. cassave, Pg. cassave, Sp. casabe, cazabe, all from the Taino language of Hayti, where it is variously given as caçábi, casávi, cazábbi, cassáve (see Peter Martyr). Several of these forms have been at times used in English.]
1. A plant, called also by its Brazilian name Mandioc, Manihot utilissima (N.O. Euphorbiaceæ), two varieties (or species) of which are extensively cultivated in the West Indies and tropical America, as also in Africa, for their fleshy tuberous roots, which ‘yield the greatest portion of the daily food of the natives of tropical America.’
The root of the Sweet Cassava (M. Aipi) is wholesome and is commonly prepared as a vegetable, the root of the Bitter Cassava contains a most virulent poisonous juice, which is however highly volatile, and is expelled by heat.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., I. VII. (Arb.), 93. They had only Cazibi, that is suche rootes whereof they make theyr breade.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, I. 10. Cassavia growes in Marishes.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes (1673), 31. Bread … made of the flower of Mayes and Cassavie mixt together.
1711. in A. Duncan, Mariner’s Chron. (1803), III. 315. Sweet cassave and green plantain roasted.
1796. Stedman, Surinam, II. xviii. Plantains and sweet cassavas roasted.
a. 1818. M. G. Lewis, Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834), 212. The bitter cassava, unless the juice is carefully pressed out of it, is a deadly poison.
2. The nutritious starch or flour obtained from the roots of the Mandioc by grating them, and pressing out the juice; the bread made from this.
A prepared form of cassava flour is Tapioca.
1577. Frampton, Joyfull Newes, 103. The Casaui is the bread … made of an Hearbe that the Indians dooe call Yuca.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 462. Cassaui, a kinde of breade made of roots.
1613. Purchas, Pilgr., I. VIII. ii. 616. Bread of a great roote called Yuca, which they name Cacavi.
1633. Gerard’s Herbal 1543 (L.). The Indian bread called Cazava.
1750. Beawes, Lex Mercat. (1752), 754. Manioc (of whose Roots Cassave is made).
1828. W. Irving, Columbus (1848), I. 160. A kind of bread called cassava.
3. attrib. and Comb.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer. (1783), II. 430. The inhabitants … had none but Cassava Bread.
1884. Health Exhib. Catal., 159/1. Cassave Bread.
1796. Stedman, Surinam, II. xx. 96. We passed through two old cassava fields.
1836. Macgillivray, trans. Humboldt’s Trav., xviii. 257. Occupied in preparing cassava-flour.
1837. M. Donovan, Dom. Econ., II. 325. The sweet cassava plant is free from any noxious property.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), I. vii. 116. I searched for the cassave root.
