white cedar

noun

1. any of several chiefly coniferous trees valued for their wood, especially Chamaecyparis thyoides, of the eastern U.S., or Thuja occidentalis northern white cedar, of northeastern North America.
2. the wood of any of these trees.

white cedar

noun

1. a coniferous tree, Chamaecyparis thyoides, of swampy regions in North America, having scalelike leaves and boxlike cones: family Cupressaceae See also cypress 1
2. the wood of this tree, which is used for building boats, etc
3. a coniferous tree, Thuja occidentalis, of NE North America, having scalelike leaves: family Cupressaceae See also arbor vitae
4. the wood of this tree, much used for telegraph poles

Word History and Origins

Origin of white cedar¹

An Americanism dating back to 1665–75

Example Sentences

For long he staggered under his heavy pack through thickets of scrub oak, white-cedar swamps, and tangles of greenthorn.

From Project Gutenberg

The soil is good, and is covered with a very heavy growth of pine and white cedar timber.

From Project Gutenberg

I saw some trees of white cedar that were seven feet in diameter, and at least one hundred and fifty feet high.

From Project Gutenberg

The prevailing growth at this place is thick bramble, spruce, white cedar, and tamarak.

From Project Gutenberg

But I suppose it is settled beyond dispute that white cedar stands at the head for boat streaks.

From Project Gutenberg