Hottentot's bread

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Definition

Noun: 1. Thick edible rootstock of elephant's-foot: This term refers specifically to the large, tuberous, and edible root of the elephant's-foot plant (Dioscorea elephantipes), a species native to southern Africa. The name is historical and considered archaic.

Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The explorers survived by eating the starchy hottentot's bread they found.
    • The plant is sometimes cultivated for its unusual caudex, historically valued as hottentot's bread.
Advanced Usage
  • Historical/Botanical Context: The term is primarily used in historical, botanical, or ethnographic texts. In modern contexts, the plant's scientific name () or common names like "elephant's foot" or "Hottentot bread" (without the possessive) are preferred due to the outdated and potentially offensive nature of the term "Hottentot."
Variants and Related Words
  • Hottentot bread (noun): A modern variant of the term, often written without the possessive 's'.
  • Elephant's-foot (noun): The common name for the plant .
  • Caudex (noun): A botanical term for the enlarged, woody stem base or rootstock that stores water, characteristic of this plant.
Synonyms
  • Elephant's foot tuber
  • Tortoise plant (another common name for , referring to the appearance of its caudex)
Notes on Usage
  • Terminology Note: The word "Hottentot" is an archaic and now considered derogatory term for the Khoekhoe peoples of South Africa. Therefore, the term hottentot's bread is outdated. Its use today is generally limited to quoting historical sources or in specific botanical discussions about the plant's history. It is recommended to use the plant's scientific name or the common name "elephant's foot" instead.
Noun
  1. thick edible rootstock of elephant's-foot

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