Indian turnip
Americannoun
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the jack-in-the-pulpit.
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its root.
Etymology
Origin of Indian turnip
An Americanism dating back to 1800–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Two birds on a stalk of Indian turnip.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
He can “root” like a hog, and will often plough up acres of prairie in search of the wapatoo and Indian turnip.
From The Hunters' Feast Conversations Around the Camp Fire by Reid, Mayne
These failed in every instance to remove any substance that had a taste or effect anything like that found in the fresh Indian turnip.
From Popular Science Monthly Oct, Nov, Dec, 1915 — Volume 86 by Anonymous
He sought first for the bitter root called Indian turnip, and after looking more than twenty minutes found it.
From The Forest Runners A Story of the Great War Trail in Early Kentucky by Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
Indian turnip grows by de thousands in de woods here.
From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume X, Missouri Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
