pokeberry

English

Alternative forms

• poke berry

Etymology

From poke +‎ berry.

Noun

pokeberry (plural pokeberries)

1. Synonym of pokeweed (the plant Phytolacca americana or its dark red or purple fruit).
   • 1975, Jesse Stuart, My world, page 8:

     I said that ink made from pokeberries was better than that made from inkballs. I said that inkballs on oak trees were scarce. All the other students laughed. They bought commercial ink at the stores.

   • 2014, Lewis Carroll, Byron W. Sewell, Victoria J. Sewell, Alice's Adventures in an Appalachian Wonderland, Evertype, →ISBN, page 5:

     considerin in her mind ... iffen the pleasure o gatherin some pokeberries an drawin dark purple picthures on a flat rock wi em would be worth the trouble...