chinquapin
or chin·ca·pin, chin·ka·pin
[ching-kuh-pin]
- 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.
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Origin of chinquapin
1605–15, Americanism; < Virginia Algonquian (E spelling) chechinquamins
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chinquapin
Historical Examples
They was some chinquapin trees in the fiel' and I jest natchally couldn' help stopping to pick up some 'chanks' now an' then.
From the hotel we follow the Chinquapin Road about a quarter of a mile.
Guide to YosemiteAnsel Hall
The chinquapin is a Southern tree, which closely resembles the chestnut.
Trees Every Child Should KnowJulia Ellen Rogers
This interferes with the popularity of the chinquapin as a dessert nut.
The Library of Work and Play: Outdoor WorkMary Rogers Miller
Our native chestnut and its little brother, the chinquapin, are the American cousins of the sweet chestnut of southern Europe.
Trees Worth KnowingJulia Ellen Rogers
chinquapin
chincapin or chinkapin
- 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
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Compare water chinquapin
Word Origin
C17: of Algonquian origin; compare Algonquian chechinkamin chestnut
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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