camass

American  

[kam-uhs] / ˈkæm əs /

Or camas

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Camassia, of the lily family, especially C. quamash, of western North America, having long clusters of blue to white flowers and edible bulbs.

2. death camass.

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camass British  

/ ˈkæmæs /

noun

1. Also called: quamash.  any of several North American plants of the liliaceous genus Camassia, esp C. quamash, which has a cluster of blue or white flowers and a sweet edible bulb

2. any liliaceous plant of the genus Zygadenus (or Zigadenus ), of the western US, that is poisonous to livestock, esp sheep

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Etymology

Origin of camass

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; from Chinook Jargon qamaš, qawaš from Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) qawaš-, qawi- “salmonberry, any berry or small fruit”

Example Sentences

In this same region, particularly to the northward, grew the small lily-like plant having a blue flower, known as the camass, the bulbs of which are highly nutritious.

From North America by Russell, Israel C. (Cook)

Out there, in the awful hush of the prairies, you could almost hear the deepening of it from the roots of the camass flowers right up to the very roots of the stars!

From Dusty Star by Baker, Olaf

Camass′ia, a genus of liliaceous plants nearly related to the European Scilla; Camass′-rat, a small gopher rodent which devours the bulbs of the camass.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

For "quamash" read "camass," an edible root much prized by the Nez Perces then and now.

From First Across the Continent The story of the exploring expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1804-5-6 by Brooks, Noah

Both the pi�on and the camass are largely utilized even at the present day for food by the Indians.

From North America by Russell, Israel C. (Cook)