‖ maracock Obs. exc. Hist.
(ˈmærəkɒk)
Forms: 7 maricock, maracoco, -coko, amaracoc, 7–8 maracoc, 8 maracot, marococ, marcor, 7– maracock.
[From the Virginian dialect of Algonquin.]
The fruit of certain American passion-flowers, esp. the ‘may-pop’, Passiflora incarnata, native of Virginia, and the granadilla, Passiflora quadrangularis, of Brazil and the West Indies. Also the plant itself.
| 1612 Strachey Virginia (Hakl. Soc.) 60 The maricock apple. 1612 Capt. Smith Virginia 17 They plant also Maracocks a wild fruit like a lemmon. 1649 Perf. Descr. Virginia (1837) 18 Fruits they have, Strawberries..Maracokos [etc.]. 1660 Sharrock Vegetables 34 The Amaracoc or Passion flower. 1704 Dict. Rust. et Urb. s.v. March, Toward the end [of March] sow..Marcors or Passion-Flower. 1707 Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 285 The Maracot is a Plant that creeps like Ivy. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v. Granadilla, The common granadilla, called the maracot and passion flower. 1896 P. A. Bruce Econ. Hist. Virginia I. 98 In addition, there were..maracocks or mayapples, beans and pumpkins. |