YAM

n. Ya2m. Any one of various species of Dioscorea, especially Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea sativa. Their roots, known also as y's, contain a large amount of starch, and in the West Indies are used as a source of arrow-root. They often contain an acrid principle, which is di ipated in cooking, [a, 35.] American wild y. See DTOSCOREA villosa. Chinese y. See DIOSCOREA batatas. Common y. See DIOSCOREA sativa. Negro y., Red y. See DIOSCOREA alata. Tivoli y. See DIOSCOREA nummular i a. White y. See DIOSCOREA alata. Y's wurzel (Ger.). See DIOSCOREA. A, ape; A, at; A3, ah; A4, all; Ch, chin; Ch2, loch (Scottish); [s. 738]