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spicebush

American  
[spahys-boosh] / ˈspaɪsˌbʊʃ /

noun

  1. Also called spice-wood.  a yellow-flowered, North American shrub, Lindera benzoin, of the laurel family, whose bark and leaves have a spicy odor.

  2. a North American shrub, Calycanthus occidentalis, having oblong leaves and fragrant, light-brown flowers.


spicebush British  
/ ˈspaɪsˌbʊʃ /

noun

  1. a North American lauraceous shrub, Lindera benzoin, having yellow flowers and aromatic leaves and bark

"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

Etymology

Origin of spicebush

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70; spice + bush 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Pearce showed me many spicebush specimens that were browsed but are now suckering afresh.

From Washington Post • Sep. 14, 2021

Invasive species like English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, Norway maples and sycamore maples will be replaced with black oak, dogwood, spicebush and native ferns.

From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2017

Related and affected trees include avocado, sassafras, northern spicebush and at least two endangered plants: pondberry and pond spice, Riggins said.

From Washington Times • Jul. 8, 2017

This spicebush swallowtail caterpillar is in disguise as something much scarier: Birds pass it up as a snack because to them, these fake-eyed mimics look like snakes or treefrogs.

From National Geographic • Sep. 2, 2015

The sunlight filters through lacy hemlock needles and we stretch out on our backs, chewing the tasty twigs of a spicebush and silently admiring the forest.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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