Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BEET, n. [D. biet; Ger. beete; It. bietola; W. betysen; L. beta; Fr. bette.]

A plant of the genus Beta. The species cultivated in gardens are the cicla and vulgaris, or white and red beet. There are many varieties; some with long taper roots, and others with flat roots, like turneps. The root furnishes a large portion of sugar, which is manufactured in France on a great scale. – Cyc.