coontie
[koon-tee]
- either of two arrowroots, Zamia integrifolia or Z. floridana, of Florida, having a short trunk, pinnate leaves, and cones: Z. floridana is an endangered species.
- the flour produced from its starch.
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Origin of coontie
1785–95, Americanism; < Florida Creek kuntí· applied to arrowroot and the starch derived therefrom, earlier (in Georgia) applied to the smilax
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
coontie
- an evergreen plant, Zamia floridana of S Florida, related to the cycads and having large dark green leathery leaves: family Zamiaceae
- a starch derived from the underground stems of this plant
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Word Origin
C19: from Seminole kunti flour from this plant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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