white cedar

American  

noun

1. any of several chiefly coniferous trees valued for their wood, especially Chamaecyparis thyoides, of the eastern U.S., or Thuja occidentalis northern white cedar, of northeastern North America.

2. the wood of any of these trees.

---

white cedar British  

noun

1. a coniferous tree, Chamaecyparis thyoides, of swampy regions in North America, having scalelike leaves and boxlike cones: family Cupressaceae See also cypress 1

2. the wood of this tree, which is used for building boats, etc

3. a coniferous tree, Thuja occidentalis, of NE North America, having scalelike leaves: family Cupressaceae See also arbor vitae

4. the wood of this tree, much used for telegraph poles

---

Etymology

Origin of white cedar

An Americanism dating back to 1665–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

white cedar

The notes range from ginger to orris root, white cedar and vetiver.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2024

“Atlantic white cedar forests are very special places, and you know it as soon as you step into one,” said Carleton Montgomery, executive director of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 23, 2021

Over the next two years, DWL will plant 10,000 native trees and shrubs across the 80-acre Long Field, including baldcypress, Atlantic white cedar and buttonbush.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 19, 2020

We obtained seaweed from Maine to season Atlantic oysters, and white cedar in Duluth, Minn., for a venison roast.

From New York Times ● Nov. 4, 2019

When white cedar and birch were not to be had, all sorts of substitutes were used.

From All Afloat A Chronicle of Craft and Waterways by William Charles Henry Wood