puccoon

[puh-koon]

noun

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

2. the dye itself.

puccoon

/ pəˈkuːn /

noun

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

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

3. the dye from any of these plants

Word History and Origins

Origin of puccoon¹

First recorded in 1605–15, from Virginia Algonquian ( English spelling) poughkone the herb Lithospermum vulgare and the red dye made from its root (cognate with Unami Delaware pé˙kɔ˙n “bloodroot”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of puccoon¹

C17: of Algonquian origin; see _pokeweed

Example Sentences

The red puccoon dye protects my back, chest, arms, and legs from insects and the burning of the sun, and my moccasins protect my feet for running.

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At their suggestion his sign was painted with puccoon root stain upon the sides of the wagon covers.

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They very often set up pyramidal stones and pillars, which they color with puccoon, and other sorts of paint, and which they adorn with peak, roenoke, &c.

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They stained the head and shoulder red with the juice of the puccoon.

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They two have strings of pearl thicker than the stem of the grape vine; they are painted with puccoon, and the feathers of the bluebird and the red-bird are upon them.

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