chinquapin

or chin·ca·pin, chin·ka·pin

[ching-kuh-pin]

noun

a shrubby chestnut, Castanea pumila, of the beech family, native to the southeastern U.S., having toothed, oblong leaves and small edible nuts.

Also called golden chinquapin. a Pacific coast evergreen tree, Castanopsis chrysophylla, of the beech family, having deeply furrowed bark, dark green lance-shaped leaves, and inedible nuts.

the nut of either of these trees.

Origin of chinquapin

1605–15, Americanism; < Virginia Algonquian (E spelling) chechinquamins

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chinquapin

Historical Examples of chinquapin

They was some chinquapin trees in the fiel' and I jest natchally couldn' help stopping to pick up some 'chanks' now an' then.
Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Arkansas Narratives, Part 4
Work Projects Administration
From the hotel we follow the Chinquapin Road about a quarter of a mile.
Guide to Yosemite
Ansel Hall
The chinquapin is a Southern tree, which closely resembles the chestnut.
Trees Every Child Should Know
Julia Ellen Rogers
This interferes with the popularity of the chinquapin as a dessert nut.
The Library of Work and Play: Outdoor Work
Mary Rogers Miller
Our native chestnut and its little brother, the chinquapin, are the American cousins of the sweet chestnut of southern Europe.
Trees Worth Knowing
Julia Ellen Rogers

British Dictionary definitions for chinquapin

chinquapin

chincapin or chinkapin

noun

a dwarf chestnut tree, Castanea pumila, of the eastern US, yielding edible nuts

Also called: giant chinquapin a large evergreen fagaceous tree, Castanopsis chrysophylla, of W North America

the nut of either of these trees

Compare water chinquapin

Word Origin for chinquapin

C17: of Algonquian origin; compare Algonquian chechinkamin chestnut

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012