arrowroot

The story

1. Lokono · derived fromaru-aru
2. English todayarrowroot

From Lokono aru-aru (literally “meal of meals”), influenced by arrow + root because the plant’s “roots” (more accurately rhizomes) are used on wounds from poison darts to absorb the poison.

First known use, by meaning

• from late 17th c. Maranta arundinacea from the Marantaceae family, a large perennial herb native to the Caribbean area with green leaves about 15 centimeters long.