pokeweed

[ pohk-weed ]

noun

1. any of numerous and usually toxic plants of the genus Phytolacca, including P. americana, of North America, having juicy purple berries and a purple root used in folk medicine, and young shoots resembling asparagus: pokeweed species vary greatly in height, with some growing to about 3.2 feet (1 meter) and others as tall as 82 feet (25 meters).

pokeweed

/ ˈpəʊkˌwiːd /

noun

1. a tall North American plant, Phytolacca americana, that has small white flowers, juicy purple berries, and a poisonous purple root used medicinally: family Phytolaccaceae Sometimes shortened topoke Also calledinkberry

Word History and Origins

Origin of pokeweed¹

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55; poke ⁴ + weed ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pokeweed¹

C18 poke, shortened from Algonquian puccoon plant used in dyeing, from pak blood

Example Sentences

Mr. Pokeweed was promptly on hand, and tore madly into the burning pile, whence he soon emerged with a nude female.

From Project Gutenberg

Just then the front wall toppled outward, and Pokeweed cleared the street at a single bound.

From Project Gutenberg

Rivina, ri-vī′na, n. a genus of apetalous plants, the pokeweed family.

From Project Gutenberg

Finely dressed visitors have come to the blue-berried juniper and the monstrous pokeweed of the terra-cotta stem.

From Project Gutenberg

Is there anywhere a more audacious beauty than the pokeweed in autumn?

From Project Gutenberg