poisonwood

[ poi-zuhn-wood ]

noun
  1. a tree, Metopium toxiferum, of southern Florida, that has compound leaves and yellowish, berrylike fruits and is poisonous to touch.

Origin of poisonwood

1
An Americanism dating back to 1715–25; poison + wood1
  • Also called poison tree .

Words Nearby poisonwood

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use poisonwood in a sentence

  • The book's setting has drawn some comparisons to Barbara Kingsolver's The poisonwood Bible.

    Great Weekend Reads | The Daily Beast | March 13, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • The tree occurs in southern Florida where it is sometimes known as poisonwood.

    American Forest Trees | Henry H. Gibson
  • Poison sumach (Rhus vernix) is not the same as poisonwood, though sometimes the two are confounded.

    American Forest Trees | Henry H. Gibson