filbert
- the thick-shelled, edible nut of certain cultivated varieties of hazel, especially of Corylus avellana, of Europe.
- a tree or shrub bearing such nuts.
Origin of filbert
Examples from the Web for filbert
Historical Examples of filbert
So Filbert staid, and was as happy as a bird in the one-eyed house.
Furthermore, he was so daffy and curdled in the Filbert that he sold three times as much as he had.
Ade's FablesGeorge Ade
The Secretary: There has been no discussion at all of the filbert, I think.
Well, I would not give a filbert for all the women born since mother Eve!
The Golden DogWilliam Kirby
Whenever I have a mind for a filbert, I have only to shake my foretop.
Imaginary Conversations and PoemsWalter Savage Landor
filbert
- any of several N temperate shrubs of the genus Corylus, esp C. maxima, that have edible rounded brown nuts: family Corylaceae
- Also called: hazelnut, cobnut the nut of any of these shrubs
Word Origin for filbert
Word Origin and History for filbert
"hazelnut," late 14c., from Anglo-French philber (late 13c.), from Norman dialect noix de filbert, in reference to St. Philbert, 7c. Frankish abbot, so called because the hazel nuts ripen near his feast day, Aug. 22 (Old Style). Weekley compares German Lambertsnuss "filbert," associated with St. Lambert (Sept. 17); also German Johannisbeere "red currant," associated with St. John's Day (June 24). The name is Old High German Filu-berht, literally "very bright."