Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

tuckahoe

[tuhk-uh-hoh]
See more synonyms for tuckahoe on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Also called Indian bread. the edible, underground sclerotium of the fungus Poria cocos, found on the roots of trees in the southern United States.
  2. arrow arum.
  3. (usually initial capital letter) a Virginian, especially one inhabiting the lowland E of the Blue Ridge.
Show More

Origin of tuckahoe

1605–15, Americanism; earlier applied to various roots and underground fungi < Virginia Algonquian (E spelling) tockwhogh, tockawhoughe, taccaho arrow arum root (used for bread), derivative of Proto-Algonquian *takwah- to pound (it) fine, reduce (it) to flour; compare Shawnee takhwa bread
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for tuckahoe

Historical Examples

  • All this hurry, noise, and singing was very different from the stillness of Tuckahoe.

    My Bondage and My Freedom

    Frederick Douglass

  • He owned about thirty "head" of slaves, and three farms in Tuckahoe.

    My Bondage and My Freedom

    Frederick Douglass

  • I pray you to present me affectionately to your family, and that of Tuckahoe.

  • And the captain of the Tuckahoe gave the command "Hard lee!"

  • This evidently suggested a line of action to the master of the Tuckahoe.

Word Origin and History for tuckahoe

n.

edible plant root, 1610s, American English, from Powhatan (Algonquian) tockawhoughe (cf. Mohegan tquogh, Shawnee tukwhah), perhaps related to Cree (Algonquian) pitikwaw "made round."

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper