skunk cabbage
noun
a low, fetid, broad-leaved North American plant, Symplocarpus foetidus, of the arum family, having a brownish-purple and green mottled spathe surrounding a stout spadix, growing in moist ground.
a related plant, Lysichiton americanum, of western North America, having a cluster of green leaves and a spike of flowers surrounded by a yellow spathe.
Origin of skunk cabbage
An Americanism dating back to 1745–55
Words nearby skunk cabbage
skull and crossbones,
skull session,
skullcap,
skullduggery,
skunk,
skunk cabbage,
skunk river,
skunk works,
skunkweed,
skunky,
skurfing
Example sentences from the Web for skunk cabbage
British Dictionary definitions for skunk cabbage
skunk cabbage
noun
a low-growing fetid aroid swamp plant, Symplocarpus foetidus of E North America, having broad leaves and minute flowers enclosed in a mottled greenish or purple spathe
a similar aroid plant, Lysichitum americanum, of the W coast of North America and N Asia
Turkish name (1392–1913):
skunkweed