camas
camas Lexical Profile
• noun
North American Any of several bulbous perennial flowering plants of the genus Camassia (family Asparagaceae), native to western North America and bearing tall racemes of star-shaped blue, violet, or white blossoms.
"In late spring, the wet meadows of the Pacific Northwest turn vibrant blue with blooming camas."
North American The edible, starchy bulb of the camas plant (especially Camassia quamash), traditionally harvested and slow-roasted in earth ovens as a staple root vegetable by Indigenous peoples of western North America.
"When baked for several days in an underground pit, raw camas transforms into a sweet, nutritious food source."
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Chinook Jargon kamass from Nuu-chah-nulth kʷama·s, meaning 'sweet' or 'pleasant to the taste', in reference to the flavor of the slow-roasted bulb.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.