Meanings
- archaicrareuncountableSagittaria spp., herbaceous perennial flowering plants that grow in water.
Known as “wappatoo” or “katniss,” the corms were prepared by baking, roasting, or boiling.
2011, Timothy A. Block, Ann Fowler Rhoads, Aquatic Plants of Pennsylvania: A Complete Reference Guide, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, page 362 more examples
KATNISS is another Indian name of a plant, the root of which they were likewise accustomed to eat, when they lived here.
1771, Peter Kalm, Travels into North America, volume 2, London: T. Lowndes, page 96[…] of the roots, they had hopniss (glycine apios), katniss (sagittaria sagittifolia), tawho (arum virginicum), tawkee (orantium aquaticum).
1832, John F. Watson, Historic Tales of Olden Time, New York: Collins & Hannay, page 54
Origin
From the plant's name in a northeastern (probably Algonquian) Native American language; compare hopniss, which is from Unami.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
katniss. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/katniss
“katniss.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/katniss. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “katniss,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/katniss.
Source: katniss on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.