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pokeweed

[ pohk-weed ]

noun

  1. any of numerous and usually toxic plants of the genus Phytolacca, including P. americana, of North America, having juicy purple berries and a purple root used in folk medicine, and young shoots resembling asparagus: pokeweed species vary greatly in height, with some growing to about 3.2 feet (1 meter) and others as tall as 82 feet (25 meters).


pokeweed

/ ˈpəʊkˌwiːd /

noun

  1. a tall North American plant, Phytolacca americana, that has small white flowers, juicy purple berries, and a poisonous purple root used medicinally: family Phytolaccaceae Sometimes shortened topoke Also calledinkberry
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of pokeweed1

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55; poke 4 + weed 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pokeweed1

C18 poke, shortened from Algonquian puccoon plant used in dyeing, from pak blood
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Example Sentences

Mr. Pokeweed was promptly on hand, and tore madly into the burning pile, whence he soon emerged with a nude female.

Just then the front wall toppled outward, and Pokeweed cleared the street at a single bound.

Rivina, ri-vī′na, n. a genus of apetalous plants, the pokeweed family.

Finely dressed visitors have come to the blue-berried juniper and the monstrous pokeweed of the terra-cotta stem.

Is there anywhere a more audacious beauty than the pokeweed in autumn?

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