camass

or cam·as

[ kam-uhs ]

/ ˈkæm əs /

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noun

any of several plants of the genus Camassia, of the lily family, especially C. quamash, of western North America, having long clusters of blue to white flowers and edible bulbs.

death camass.

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Origin of camass

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; from Chinook Jargon qamaš, qawaš from Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) qawaš-, qawi- “salmonberry, any berry or small fruit”

Words nearby camass

camaraderie, camarasaur, Camargue, camarilla, Camarillo, camass, camauro, Camb., Cambay, camber, camber piece

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use camass in a sentence

Both the pion and the camass are largely utilized even at the present day for food by the Indians.
North America|Israel C. Russell
The Natives along the River now are generally employed curing salmon and collecting camass.
The Washington Historical Quarterly, Volume V, 1914|Various
For "quamash" read "camass," an edible root much prized by the Nez Perces then and now.
First Across the Continent|Noah Brooks
They were cooked elaborately in pits, care being taken to avoid the poisonous bulbs of the Death Camass, which resemble them.
Field Book of Western Wild Flowers|Margaret Armstrong

Camass, ka-mas′, n. a small plant growing in the north-western United States, also its nutritious bulb.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for camass

camass

camas

/ (ˈkæmæs) /

noun

Also called: quamash any of several North American plants of the liliaceous genus Camassia, esp C. quamash, which has a cluster of blue or white flowers and a sweet edible bulb

death camass any liliaceous plant of the genus Zygadenus (or Zigadenus), of the western US, that is poisonous to livestock, esp sheep

Word Origin for camass

C19: from Chinook Jargon kamass, from Nootka chamas sweet

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012