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Glite Dictionary
leatherwood

leatherwood

9.9
A small tree or bush with tough branches and noticeable flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛðərˌwʊd/
  • US
translation icon : madera de cuero
  • The leatherwood shrub is known for its tough branches and beautiful flowers.

Examples

  • In spring, the leatherwood tree blooms, attracting various pollinators with its striking blossoms.

  • Hikers often admire the leatherwood that grows along the trails, appreciating its flexibility and strength.

  • "Certainly our firm and other firms in town feel like we compete with other large firms in the country," says partner Steve Earp of Smith Moore Leatherwood.

    Academic text (2011)

  • During the 13 well-documented surveys reported here, over 23,000 cetaceans were seen; however, only 5 were belugas (4 sightings) (Harrison and Hall, 1978; Leatherwood et al. (n3); and Table 1).

    Academic text (2000)

Synonyms

Dirca
vsleatherwood
  • Specialized
9.9

A North American shrub that loses its leaves and has small yellow flowers

is the common everyday name for these North American shrubs
Dirca palustris
vsleatherwood
  • Specialized
9.9

A small shrub from eastern North America with flexible branches and small yellow spring flowers

covers similar shrubs generally not only this single species

Surface Forms

leatherwood singular
leatherwoods plural

Morphology

leatherwood = leather + wood (semi-transparent) = leather + wood

The compound is built from the clear words 'leather' and 'wood', but it is a specific plant name so the precise botanical referent is not fully predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

Leatherwood comes from the simple parts leather and wood, because its bark and branches are as tough and flexible as 'leather'. So the name helps you remember it is a shrub or small tree with strong, bendy wood and special flowers.