Definition

1. Noun:
   • A North American walnut tree (Juglans nigra) characterized by its hard, dark wood and edible nut.
   • An American hickory tree (Carya texana) known for its bitter nuts.
   • A smooth-barked North American hickory (Carya glabra) with compound leaves of 7 to 9 leaflets, bearing a hard-shelled, edible nut.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The furniture was crafted from durable black hickory.
  • Squirrels often forage for the nuts of the black hickory.
  • The forest contained several species, including black hickory and white oak.

Advanced Usage

• In Botanical Contexts: The term "black hickory" can refer specifically to different species within the genus depending on the regional dialect and botanical classification.
  • The study focused on the drought resistance of the black hickory (Carya texana).

Variants and Related Words

• Pignut Hickory (): A common synonym for one type of black hickory, referring to its smooth bark and nut.
• Black Walnut (): While sometimes colloquially called "black hickory," this is a distinct species in the walnut family.
• Bitter Pecan (): Another name for the bitter-nutted black hickory species.

Synonyms

• Pignut (for )
• Bitter Hickory (for )
• Smoothbark Hickory (for )

Notes on Meaning

The term "black hickory" is ambiguous and can refer to different trees. Its primary meaning depends on context: 1. It most precisely denotes hickory trees with dark bark or wood, primarily Carya texana and Carya glabra. 2. In some regional or historical usage, it may refer to the black walnut (Juglans nigra), which is not a true hickory but shares characteristics like hard, dark wood and an edible nut.

Noun

1. North American walnut tree with hard dark wood and edible nut
2. an American hickory tree having bitter nuts
3. smooth-barked North American hickory with 7 to 9 leaflets bearing a hard-shelled edible nut