coontie

noun

coon·​tie ˈkün-tē How to pronounce coontie (audio)
: any of several tropical American woody cycads (genus Zamia) whose roots and stems yield a starchy foodstuff

called also arrowroot

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web An infamous example is the arrowroot starch derived from the native coontie, later banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Kenneth Setzer, miamiherald, 14 June 2018 Atala butterflies use a similar strategy based on their coontie consumption. Kenneth Setzer, miamiherald, 14 June 2018 Sago palms, also known as cycads, cardboard palms, fern palms and coontie plants, hail from tropical and subtropical areas but have become popular ornamental plants in the United States in the past 10 to 20 years. Kim Campbell Thornton, sacbee, 14 Mar. 2018 Zebra longwing and Julia butterflies flutter about as red and yellow Atala caterpillars munch on coonties, and bees enjoy the ever-changing flowers in bloom. Sun-Sentinel.com, 27 Sep. 2017 For these problem areas give Asiatic jasmine, coontie, mondo grass and wire vine a try. Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 1 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coontie.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Creek (Florida dialect) kontí·

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coontie was in 1791

Dictionary Entries Near coontie

Cite this Entry

“Coontie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coontie. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

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