coontie

[ koon-tee ]

noun

1. either of two arrowroots, Zamia integrifolia or Z. floridana, of Florida, having a short trunk, pinnate leaves, and cones: Z. floridana is an endangered species.
2. the flour produced from its starch.

coontie

/ ˈkuːntɪ /

noun

1. an evergreen plant, Zamia floridana of S Florida, related to the cycads and having large dark green leathery leaves: family Zamiaceae
2. a starch derived from the underground stems of this plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of coontie¹

1785–95, Americanism; < Florida Creek kuntí· applied to arrowroot and the starch derived therefrom, earlier (in Georgia) applied to the smilax

Word History and Origins

Origin of coontie¹

C19: from Seminole kunti flour from this plant