cocoyam

British  

/ ˈkəʊkəʊˌjæm /

noun

1. either of two food plants of West Africa, the taro or the yantia, both of which have edible underground stems

2. the underground stem of either of these plants

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Etymology

Origin of cocoyam

C20: from _cocoa + _yam

Example Sentences

Her sister-in-law intervened and managed to save a small portion of land where Ujah now cultivates cocoyam, a root vegetable.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2022

I don't blame you because something affected a cocoyam and made it scream out meow-meow, like a cat, while being boiled on a fire.

From The Guardian • Mar. 16, 2013

I watched her pound the cocoyams, dipping the pestle often into the bowl of water so the cocoyam wouldn’t stick too much to it.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

When the cocoyam leaves were soft, I mashed them up on my grinding slab.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

The cocoyam leaves were massive, like green elephant ears.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo