tuckahoe

Where does the word "tuckahoe" come from? It comes from Virginia Algonquian (Powhatan) tockwhogh, and was adopted directly into English (1610s).

Tuckahoe’s story begins in Virginia Algonquian (Powhatan): tockwhogh meant “arrow arum root, an edible starchy root.” Named the starchy root of the arrow arum plant, an important food source. It reached English by 1610s as tuckahoe. Recorded by English colonists in Virginia, including in the writings of Captain John Smith. Today, tuckahoe means a wetland plant with a starchy edible root, historically an important food source in the coastal southeastern U.S.

1. Stage 1 · Virginia Algonquian (Powhatan) · pre-1620s tockwhogh "arrow arum root, an edible starchy root", named the starchy root of the arrow arum plant, an important food source.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1610s tuckahoe "an edible wetland root plant; later, a nickname for Virginians east of the Blue Ridge", recorded by English colonists in Virginia, including in the writings of Captain John Smith.