tuckahoes

Noun

tuckahoe (countable and uncountable, plural tuckahoes)

1. The edible root of a plant of species Peltandra virginica, used by Native Americans of colonial-era Virginia.
   • In June, July, and August, they feed upon the rootes of Tockwough berries, fish, and greene wheat.1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 142

   Synonyms:

   wild potato, arrow arum

2. (US, Virginia, dialectal, obsolete, uncommon) A person, especially if poor and malnourished (or if implied to be), living east of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.
   • […] at least until you either get poor Tuckahoe out of his present hobble, in furnishing so many strong suspicions against the sincerity of his former professions of patriotism, […]1828 February 8, "Tusgarora" (pen name), in a letter to the editor of The American Farmer, page 372
3. The sclerotium of wood-decay fungi of species Wolfiporia extensa, used by Native Americans and the Chinese as food and as a herbal medicine.
4. The flowering plant Orontium aquaticum.