puccoon

[puh-koon]

noun

any of certain plants that yield a red dye, as the bloodroot and certain plants belonging to the genus Lithospermum, of the borage family.

the dye itself.

Origin of puccoon

1605–15, Americanism; < Virginia Algonquian (E spelling) poughkone the herb Lithospermum vulgare and the red dye made from its root (cognate with Unami Delaware pé˙kɔ˙n bloodroot)

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British Dictionary definitions for puccoon

puccoon

noun

Also called: alkanet any of several North American boraginaceous plants of the genus Lithospermum, esp L. canescens, that yield a red dyeSee also gromwell

any of several other plants that yield a reddish dye, esp the bloodroot (red puccoon)

the dye from any of these plants

Word Origin for puccoon

C17: of Algonquian origin; see pokeweed

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