puccoon

[ puh-koon ]

/ pəˈkun /

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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.

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Origin of puccoon

First recorded in 1605–15, Americanism; 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”)

Words nearby puccoon

puca, Pucallpa, púcán, Puccini, Puccini, Giacomo, puccoon, puce, pucellas, puck, pucka, puck-carrier

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for puccoon

puccoon

/ (pəˈkuːn) /

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012