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shittimwood

shittimwood

9.9
A small thorny tree from the southern United States and Mexico
  • noun
  • /ˈʃɪtɪmˌwʊd/
  • Archaic
translation icon : madera de shittim
  • In spring, the shittimwood produces clusters of delicate white flowers.

Examples

  • The cabinet was crafted from rare shittimwood imported from the southern states.

  • Botanists noted the abundance of shittimwood in the coastal forests of Mississippi.

  • The carpenter used shittimwood for the new table.

  • Many ancient artifacts were made from shittimwood.

  • The cabinet was crafted from rare shittimwood imported from the southern states.

  • Botanists noted the abundance of shittimwood in the coastal forests of Mississippi.

  • In spring, the shittimwood produces clusters of delicate white flowers.

Synonyms

shittim
vsshittimwood
  • Specialized
9.9

A small thorny tree with white flowers and black fruit

is identified with other species and sometimes appears in biblical references
Bumelia lycioides
vsshittimwood
  • Specialized
9.9

A small thorny tree from the southeastern United States with white flowers and black fruit

is seen as that tree sometimes identified with different species or biblical sources
southern buckthorn
vsshittimwood
  • US
9.9

A thorny shrub or small tree from the southeastern United States with white flowers and small black berries

is more often treated as a name applied to various similar trees
shittah
vsshittimwood
  • Archaic
9.9

A tree like an acacia with hard wood used in the Bible

is used as a regional name that can refer to several similar species
shittah tree
vsshittimwood
  • Archaic
9.9

A tree mentioned in the Bible like an acacia, used for its strong wood

is a local term sometimes applied to different trees rather than one species
chittimwood
vsshittimwood
  • Archaic
9.9

A tree from southeastern US and Mexico that loses its leaves and provides strong wood

is a local name that links the tree to other species including durable timber
black locust
vsshittimwood
  • US
7.2

A large thorny tree with hanging clusters of fragrant white flowers

is described as a shrubby regional form sometimes equated with larger species
false buckthorn
vsshittimwood
  • US
8.7

A tree with berries that grows in southeastern United States and Mexico

is a more general regional name sometimes used for several similar looking trees
black haw
vsshittimwood
  • US
9.2

A small tree or bush with white flowers and dark blue edible berries often grown in gardens

is usually valued for appearance rather than regional identification or durable wood

Surface Forms

shittimwood singular
shittimwoods plural

Morphology

shittimwood = shittim + wood (semi-transparent) = shittim + wood

Formed by compounding a (biblical/rare) tree name 'shittim' with 'wood' meaning 'wood of the shittim tree'; the composition is clear but the first element is a rare/biblical name unfamiliar to most learners.

Etymology

Shittimwood comes from the Hebrew word shittah, meaning 'acacia', a thorny, shrubby tree. So when you hear shittimwood, think of the hard, thorny acacia-like trees found in the south and Mexico, which is why the name is used for those trees today.