A form of trial by ordeal in Liberia, typically involving a suspect drinking a poisonousconcoction made from the bark of the ordeal tree Erythrophleum guineense (species), Erythrophleum ivorense (species), or Erythrophleum suaveolens (species) (called sassy bark); by extension, other forms of trial by ordeal such as applying a heated machete to the suspect's legs, or dipping the suspect's hand into hot oil.
The ordeal tree itself, the bark of which is used in the sassywood procedure.
Origin
From sassy, of Unknown (probably African) origin + wood.
Modern English dictionary
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