redroot

[ red-root, -root ]

noun

1. a North American plant, Lachnanthes caroliniana (or L. tinctoria ), having sword-shaped leaves, woolly, yellowish flowers, and a root that is red in color.
2. any of various other plants having red roots, as the alkanet, Alkanna tinctoria, pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus, and New Jersey tea, Ceanothus americanus.

redroot

/ ˈrɛdˌruːt /

noun

1. a bog plant, Lachnanthes tinctoria , of E North America, having woolly yellow flowers and roots that yield a red dye: family Haemodoraceae
2. another name for pigweed

Word History and Origins

Origin of redroot¹

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10; red ¹ + root ¹

Example Sentences

Farm life often requires rising with the sun, but chores, whether pulling redroot weeds or tending sheep, usually conclude by lunch.

From New York Times

The bottle the team was looking for contains over a thousand seeds: 50 each of 21 different species, from black mustard to white clover to redroot amaranth.

From New York Times

Then go on a prowl for tasty summer weeds such as redroot pigweed and lamb’s quarters.

From Washington Post

Old lady Field she make medicine with snakeroot and larkspur and marshroot and redroot.

From Project Gutenberg

The weeds commonly called redroot or iron-weed are very good for this.

From Project Gutenberg