horse chestnut

noun

1. a tree, Aesculus hippocastanum, native to the Old World, having digitate leaves and upright clusters of white flowers.
2. the shiny, brown, nutlike seed of this tree or of other trees of the genus Aesculus.

horse chestnut

noun

1. any of several trees of the genus Aesculus, esp the Eurasian A. hippocastanum, having palmate leaves, erect clusters of white, pink, or red flowers, and brown shiny inedible nuts enclosed in a spiky bur: family Hippocastanaceae
2. Also calledconker the nut of this tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of horse chestnut¹

1590–1600; translation of New Latin castanea equīna; so named from its use in treating respiratory diseases of horses

Word History and Origins

Origin of horse chestnut¹

C16: so called from its having been used in the treatment of respiratory disease in horses

Example Sentences

Then he felt better, especially after he had rubbed a horse chestnut on his sore leg.

From Project Gutenberg

Her perfectly arranged hair was glossy brown, with glints in it like the colour of a horse-chestnut.

From Project Gutenberg

Several people stood before the Rectory, beneath the shade of a large horse-chestnut tree.

From Project Gutenberg

Many Americans wear the seed of the horse-chestnut, and many others wear lucky coins.

From Project Gutenberg

I tried in vain to get his honest opinion on horse-chestnut blossoms as compared with apples and peaches and apricots.

From Project Gutenberg