puccoon

[puh-koon] /pəˈkun/
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.
Origin
1605-15, Americanism; < Virginia Algonquian (E spelling) poughkone the herb Lithospermum vulgare and the red dye made from its root (cognate with Unami Delaware pé˙kɔ˙n bloodroot)
British Dictionary definitions for puccoon

puccoon

/pəˈkuːn/
noun
1.
Also called alkanet. 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 Origin
C17: of Algonquian origin; see pokeweed
Encyclopedia Article for puccoon

any of several plants formerly used by certain North American Indians for dyes derived from the roots, the term being an Algonquian name for dye. Lithospermum species include the yellow puccoon, or Indian paint (L. canescens), with small yellow or orange flowers and reddish roots. It and a few other species (L. incisum and L. carolinense) of the borage family (Boraginaceae) are sometimes planted in the wild garden. The red puccoon, or bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), is a dye-yielding member of the poppy family (Papaveraceae).

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