chinquapin

or chin·ca·pin, chin·ka·pin

[ ching-kuh-pin ]

/ ˈtʃɪŋ kə pɪn /

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.

Nearby words

chinook, chinook jargon, chinook salmon, chinookan, chinos, chinquapin, chintz, chintzy, chinwag, chinwangtao, chiné

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

The chinquapin is a Southern tree, which closely resembles the chestnut.
Trees Every Child Should Know|Julia Ellen Rogers
We used to git Blackhaw root and cherry bark and dogwood and chinquapin bark, what make good tonic.
Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves|Work Projects Administration
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
On several occasions, in winter, groups of long-eared owls (Asio otus) have been found roosting in thickets of chinquapin oak.
The Forest Habitat of the University of Kansas Natural History Reservation|Henry S. Fitch

It has no name but chinquapin which is an Indian word supposed to have the same meaning that it now has.
American Forest Trees|Henry H. Gibson

British Dictionary definitions for chinquapin

chinquapin

chincapin or chinkapin

/ (ˈtʃɪŋkəpɪn) /

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