Indian shot
- noun
:
canna
- Starch extracted from Indian shot roots is sometimes used as a thickener in cooking.
Examples
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The farmer cultivated Indian shot for its nutritious rootstock and vibrant flowers.
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The seeds of the Indian shot are hard and can be used for jewelry.
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The Indian shot plant thrives in warm climates.
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Many gardeners prefer Indian shots for their vibrant flowers.
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Starch extracted from Indian shot roots is sometimes used as a thickener in cooking.
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The farmer cultivated Indian shot for its nutritious rootstock and vibrant flowers.
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The Indian shot plant thrives in warm climates.
Synonyms
A South American plant grown for its starchy edible root used to make arrowroot starch
A plant grown for its starchy root to make arrowroot flour
A plant that people grow for its edible roots used to make arrowroot starch
A tropical plant grown for its large starchy root used for flour
Surface Forms
Morphology
Indian + shot
The phrase names a specific plant (canna) whose meaning is not derivable from 'Indian' plus the common senses of 'shot' (e.g., projectile or injection). 'Shot' here is archaic/specialized and the compound is lexicalized, so a B1 learner knowing the constituents would not predict the plant meaning.
Etymology
Indian shot may come from the plant's hard, round seeds that looked like the small balls people used in old guns, so the word shot was used and the plant was linked to the 'Indies' where it was first seen. Because the plant has a thick, edible root used for starch, the name Indian shot came to mean this edible canna plant.
