scrub oak

American  

noun

1. any of several oaks, as Quercus ilicifolia and Q. prinoides, characterized by a scrubby manner of growth, usually found in dry, rocky soil.

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Etymology

Origin of scrub oak

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scrub oak

TreePeople is offering five varieties of native trees saplings for “adoption” — only one per household — including coast live oak, scrub oak, valley oak, toyon and southern black walnut.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2023

With wild scrub oak and big, red sandstone formations, it looks like something from a John Wayne western.

From National Geographic ● Jun. 29, 2018

Spent an hour getting scratched up by scrub oak and thorns looking for David’s drone that he crashed.

From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2018

Here’s the original clubhouse: And here’s the tennis court:    The Links went dormant during the Depression and the Second World War, and they became overgrown with Chappy's newest residents: scrub oak and pitch pine.

From Golf Digest ● Oct. 16, 2013

There, the scrub oak was lying splintered and smoking over the bank, its blackened branches in the water.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker