hickory

¹

[ hik-uh-ree, hik-ree ]

noun

, plural hick·o·ries.

1. any of several North American trees belonging to the genus Carya, of the walnut family, certain species of which bear edible nuts or yield a valuable wood. Compare pecan, shagbark.
2. the wood of any of these trees.
3. a switch, stick, etc., of this wood.
4. Baseball Slang. a baseball bat.
5. Also called hickory cloth,. a strong fabric of twill construction, used chiefly in the manufacture of work clothes.

Hickory

²

[ hik-uh-ree, hik-ree ]

noun

1. a city in W North Carolina.

hickory

/ ˈhɪkərɪ /

noun

1. any juglandaceous tree of the chiefly North American genus Carya, having nuts with edible kernels and hard smooth shells See also pecan pignut bitternut shagbark
2. the hard tough wood of any of these trees
3. the nut of any of these trees
4. a switch or cane made of hickory wood

Word History and Origins

Origin of hickory¹

First recorded in 1610–20, Americanism; earlier pohickery, from Virginia Algonquian ( English spelling) pocohiquara, the name of a milky drink prepared from hickory nuts

Word History and Origins

Origin of hickory¹

C17: from earlier pohickery, from Algonquian pawcohiccora food made from ground hickory nuts

Example Sentences

Outside, oak and hickory and pecan trees dotted the rolling grassland.

From The Daily Beast

Salmon, tuna, sturgeon, mussels, oysters, and sable are marinated and smoked using hickory and alder wood.

From The Daily Beast

Bill Kristol's comparison of the Alaskan governor to Old Hickory doesn't fly.

From The Daily Beast

Of course he was contemplating the application of a "two year old hickory," as he went on at the rate of two forty.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a quiet, cynical smile on his face as he sat there beating a tattoo on his leggings with a hickory twig.

From Project Gutenberg

Coal is best, but hickory saplings, chopped about two feet long, make a good steaming heat.

From Project Gutenberg

Holding out his hand, white as a woman's, a diamond flashed on the ring-finger as large as a hickory nut.

From Project Gutenberg

Without a word, Jim's right hand crept stealthily inside his hickory shirt, where a button was missing.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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