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cotton gum

American  

noun

  1. any of several tupelo trees, especially Nyssa aquatica.


Etymology

Origin of cotton gum

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; so called from the cottonlike hairs of its seeds

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Owing to the prejudice against tupelo gum, it was until recently marketed under such names as bay poplar, swamp poplar, nyssa, cotton gum, circassian walnut, and hazel pine.

From Seasoning of Wood by J. B. (Joseph Bernard) Wagner

The tupelo gum, or cotton gum, Nyssa aquatica L., is found in deep river swamps which are flooded during a part of the year.

From Forest Trees of Illinois How to Know Them by Fuller George D.

Twigs are indicated in clammy locust, cotton gum, winged elm.

From Trees Worth Knowing by Julia Ellen Rogers

The most important vegetable productions are—cereals, cotton, gum tragacanth, liquorice, olive oil, opium, rice, saffron, salep, tobacco and yellow berries.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7 "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" by Various

The cotton gum is draped in cottony white down as the new shoots start and the leaves unfold in spring.

From Trees Worth Knowing by Julia Ellen Rogers

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