noun
- Plural of coontie; a tropical American plant (Zamia pumila) with a starchy root used as food, also called arrowroot or coontie root.
Usage: regional; chiefly southeastern United States
Examples
- The coonties grew wild in the Florida scrubland.
- Native Americans harvested coonties for their nutritious starch.
- Several coonties were planted in the botanical garden.
- The roots of coonties were processed into a flour-like substance.
- Coonties are now less common due to habitat loss.