puccoon

[ puh-koon ]

noun

1. any of certain plants that yield a red dye, as the bloodroot and certain plants belonging to the genus Lithospermum, of the borage family.
2. the dye itself.

puccoon

/ pəˈkuːn /

noun

1. See gromwell
   Also calledalkanet any of several North American boraginaceous plants of the genus Lithospermum, esp L. canescens, that yield a red dye See also gromwell
2. any of several other plants that yield a reddish dye, esp the bloodroot ( red puccoon )
3. the dye from any of these plants

Word History and Origins

Origin of puccoon¹

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”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of puccoon¹

C17: of Algonquian origin; see pokeweed