wocus

English

the lily

Alternative forms

• wokas (as common as wocus)
• wokus, wocas (less common than wocus)

Etymology

From the Klamath-Modoc word for the plant's seeds, wocus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /woʊ kəs/

Noun

wocus

1. (US, regional) A large yellow water lily (Nuphar polysepala) found in the northwestern United States.
2. (US, regional) The seeds of this water lily, eaten by the Klamath and others.

Synonyms

• (Nuphar polysepala): Rocky Mountain spatterdock

Klamath-Modoc

FWOTD – 28 November 2012

Alternative forms

• wókash (Gatschet)

Etymology

From the name of the lily, woksʔam.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wokəs/

Noun

wocus

1. the seeds of the yellow water lily (Nuphar polysepala), which ripen in July and August and are harvested, parched, hulled, and eaten by the Klamath and Modoc

References

• Gatschet, Samuel S. (1890). The Klamath Indians of southwestern Oregon. Volume II, Part II. United States Government Printing Office.
• Sturtevant, William C. (1978). Handbook of North American Indians, page 449