Puccoon

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /pʌˈkuːn/

Alternative forms

• paucon, pauson
• pocones 17th c.

Origin

From Powhatan poughkone. Puccoon thus forms a doublet with poke ("pokeweed").

Full definition of puccoon

Noun

1. (botany) Any one of several plants yielding a red pigment which is used by the North American Indians, such as the bloodroot and two species of Lithospermum, and .
• 2002, Stephen G Ausband, Byrd's line, page 62:The puccoon dye was used as a sort of body rouge; it rubbed off on English linen quite easily, as Byrd's men discovered.
2. The red pigment (dye) obtained from these plants.
• 1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, quoted by Kupperman in 1988, page 61:their head and shoulders were painted red, with Oyle and Pocones mingled together, which Scarlet-like colour made an exceeding handsome shew ....

Derived terms