or sparagras, subs. (old colloquial).—Asparagus: polite in the 18th Century; now vulgar.
1649. W. BLITH, The English Improver Improved, (1653), 241. [The Hop plant] comes up with severall sprouts like SPARROWGRASS.
1667. PEPYS, Diary (1879), IV. 307. Brought with me from Fenchurch Street, a hundred of SPARROWGRASS.
1706. PHILLIPS, Dictionary, s.v. ASPARAGUS, a Plant call’d SPARROW-GRASS by the Common People.
1711. GREENWOOD, An Essay towards a Practical English Grammar, 199. Sperage, which the Vulgar wrest to SPAROGRASS or SPARROWGRASS.
1763. FOOTE, The Mayor of Garratt, ii. 1. I should recommend the opening of a new branch of trade, SPARAGRASS, gentlemen.
1801. SOUTHEY [C. SOUTHEY, Life, II. 134]. SPARAGRASS (it ought to be spelt so) and artichokes, good with plain butter.
