What does pokeberry mean?
Pokeberry refers chiefly to the dark reddish-purple berry of pokeweed, especially American pokeweed, a tall plant native to much of North America. It may also refer to the plant itself, particularly in regional speech. The fruit is visually striking, but raw pokeweed berries are toxic, and the plant also contains irritating compounds in its roots and other parts. Historically, the berries' dark juice was used to make inks and dyes, giving the word an association with old-fashioned purple and black coloring. Today, pokeberry is encountered in descriptions of the plant, botanical studies, regional plant names, and warnings about poisonous vegetation. The word is less common in British English, where related names for the plant may be more familiar. In writing, “pokeberry” normally identifies the fruit, whereas “pokeweed” more often denotes the entire species.
nounThe pokeweed plant, especially the pokeweed plant of eastern and central North America, or one of its dark reddish-purple berries.
- The dark reddish-purple fruit of the pokeweed plant.
- The pokeweed plant itself, particularly American pokeweed.
"The children gathered ripe pokeberries, unaware that the attractive fruit should not be eaten."
"Pokeberry juice was once used to tint ink a deep purplish black."
"A tall stand of pokeberry grew along the neglected fence."
The standard plural is “pokeberries,” with the second syllable retaining the stress.
"Clusters of pokeberries appeared along the roadside."
Its dark berries have long been used to make purple-black ink, but the plant's vivid appearance conceals its toxicity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pokeberry come from?
The compound pokeberry was formed in the 19th century from “poke,” an older name for the pokeweed plant, and the ordinary noun “berry.” The origin of the element “poke” is uncertain and may reflect an Indigenous American plant name transmitted through English colonial usage. The later compound helped distinguish the plant's conspicuous fruit while retaining the older regional name for the plant.
How pokeberry is actually used
The term is chiefly North American. Although sometimes used casually for the plant, it is most often understood as the berry. Raw pokeweed berries and other parts of the plant are toxic and should not be eaten.
Easily confused with pokeberry
Pokeberry can refer to the whole pokeweed plant or its berry, while pokeweed conventionally names the plant.