bitternut

American  

[bit-er-nuht] / ˈbɪt ərˌnʌt /

noun

1. a hickory, Carya cordiformis, of the eastern and southern U.S., bearing a smooth, gray, bitter seed.

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bitternut British  

/ ˈbɪtəˌnʌt /

noun

1. an E North American hickory tree, Carya cordiformis , with thin-shelled nuts and bitter kernels

2. the nut of this plant

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Etymology

Origin of bitternut

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10; bitter + nut

Example Sentences

The nonnative trees include ponderosa pine from South Dakota and Nebraska, and bitternut hickory from southern Minnesota and Illinois.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2019

Palik pointed out bitternut hickory from southern Minnesota and Illinois.

From Washington Post

He reported a lack of congeniality between shagbark and bitternut hickory.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 44th Annual Meeting Rochester, N.Y. August 31 and September 1, 1953 by Northern Nut Growers Association

Too often shagbarks fail to unite with bitternut and frequently they are short-lived.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Incorporated 39th Annual Report at Norris, Tenn. September 13-15 1948 by Northern Nut Growers Association

The pignut, mockernut, and bitternut have a rather general distribution especially in the central and northern parts of the state.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 41st Annual Meeting Pleasant Valley, New York, August 28, 29 and 30, 1950 by Northern Nut Growers Association