CAMASS Definition & Meaning

camass

or ��·��

[ kam-uhs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of several plants of the genus Camassia, of the lily family, especially C. quamash, of western North America, having long clusters of blue to white flowers and edible bulbs.
death camass.

camass

/ ˈ��æ��æ�� /

noun

Also calledquamash any of several North American plants of the liliaceous genus Camassia, esp C. quamash, which has a cluster of blue or white flowers and a sweet edible bulb
death camass
any liliaceous plant of the genus Zygadenus (or Zigadenus ), of the western US, that is poisonous to livestock, esp sheep

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of camass¹

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; from Chinook Jargon qamaš, qawaš from Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) qawaš-, qawi- “salmonberry, any berry or small fruit”

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of camass¹

C19: from Chinook Jargon kamass, from Nootka chamas sweet

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Compared with its outrageously popular cousin in California, the Centennial Marsh super bloom sees fewer people as a sea of purple camass lilies covers the valley floor.

From

Camass′ia, a genus of liliaceous plants nearly related to the European Scilla; Camass′-rat, a small gopher rodent which devours the bulbs of the camass.

From

Both the pi�on and the camass are largely utilized even at the present day for food by the Indians.

From

Out there, in the awful hush of the prairies, you could almost hear the deepening of it from the roots of the camass flowers right up to the very roots of the stars!

From

Trowel in hand Molly Dale was kneeling on one knee between the brook and a row of blue camass.

From

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