A buckeye is a type of tree that grows in North America, named for its distinctive seeds. Each seed is glossy, dark brown, and has a large tan spot that supposedly looks like the eye of a male deer (a buck). The Ohio buckeye is the state tree of Ohio, which is why Ohio is called “The Buckeye State” and why Ohio State University's sports teams are called the Buckeyes.

The seeds are smooth and appealing to hold, about the size of a large marble, but they're mildly poisonous and shouldn't be eaten. Despite this, people have carried buckeyes as good luck charms for generations. Native Americans used to treat buckeye wood and seeds to make them safe for various purposes, though the process was complex and time-consuming.

The word also refers to a popular candy, especially in Ohio: chocolate-covered peanut butter balls that look like buckeye seeds, with a circle of peanut butter showing through the chocolate coating. These sweet buckeyes are definitely safe to eat, unlike the real seeds!

When someone calls you a buckeye, they might simply mean you're from Ohio, worn as a badge of state pride rather than as any kind of insult.