red cedar

American  

noun

1. Also called savin.  Also called eastern red cedar,.  an American, coniferous tree, Juniperus virginiana, yielding a fragrant, reddish wood used for making lead pencils, etc.

2. the western red cedar, Thuja plicata.

3. the wood of these trees.

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red cedar British  

noun

1. any of several North American coniferous trees, esp Juniperus virginiana , a juniper that has fragrant reddish wood used for making pencils, and Thuja plicata , an arbor vitae

2. the wood of any of these trees

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Etymology

Origin of red cedar

An Americanism dating back to 1675–85

Example Sentences

Further up the river, Chapin named Chicopee, a Nipmuc word for evergreen red cedar.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2025

It turned out to be an Eastern red cedar tree that was 3,775 years old.

From NewsForKids.net • Oct. 23, 2024

At least 15 native Pacific Northwest tree species — including the Western red cedar — have experienced growth declines and die-offs in recent years, according to nonprofit news outlet Columbia Insight.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 21, 2024

The remainder were sugar pine, noble fir, red fir, incense cedar, western red cedar, mountain hemlock and western hemlock.

From Science Daily • Dec. 28, 2023

The araputanga tree is similar to red cedar and almost as light as cork, making it better suited for a light canoe.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple