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hemlock

[ hem-lok ]
/ ˈhɛmˌlɒk /
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noun
a poisonous plant, Conium maculatum, of the parsley family, having purple-spotted stems, finely divided leaves, and umbels of small white flowers, used medicinally as a powerful sedative.
a poisonous drink made from this plant.
any of various other plants, especially of the genus Cicuta, as the water hemlock.
Also called hemlock spruce . any of several coniferous trees of the genus Tsuga, native to the U.S., characterized by a pyramidal manner of growth.Compare eastern hemlock, western hemlock.
the soft, light wood of a hemlock tree, used in making paper, in the construction of buildings, etc.
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Origin of hemlock

before 900; Middle English hemlok, humlok,Old English hymlic, hemlic; perhaps akin to Old English hymele hop plant
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hemlock in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hemlock

hemlock
/ (ˈhɛmˌlɒk) /

noun
an umbelliferous poisonous Eurasian plant, Conium maculatum, having finely divided leaves, spotted stems, and small white flowersUS name: poison hemlock See also water hemlock
a poisonous drug derived from this plant
Also called: hemlock spruce any coniferous tree of the genus Tsuga, of North America and E Asia, having short flat needles: family PinaceaeSee also western hemlock
the wood of any of these trees, used for lumber and as a source of wood pulp

Word Origin for hemlock

Old English hymlic; perhaps related to hymele hop plant, Middle Low German homele, Old Norwegian humli, Old Slavonic chǔmelï
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
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