bitternut

[ bit-er-nuht ]

noun

1. a hickory, Carya cordiformis, of the eastern and southern U.S., bearing a smooth, gray, bitter seed.

bitternut

/ ˈbɪtəˌnʌt /

noun

1. an E North American hickory tree, Carya cordiformis , with thin-shelled nuts and bitter kernels
2. the nut of this plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of bitternut¹

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10; bitter + nut

Example Sentences

None of them that I have tried to graft will live on bitternut roots.

From Project Gutenberg

The farm was covered with butternut trees, hazel bushes, and a wild hickory called "bitternut."

From Project Gutenberg

The Weschcke hickory makes a tremendous growth grafted on bitternut hickory (Carya Cordiformis).

From Project Gutenberg

I am now reconciled to using my native bitternut trees for most of my stock in spite of some disadvantages.

From Project Gutenberg

The bitternut (Hicoria minima) can be told from the mockernut and other species of hickory by its bud, which has no scales at all.

From Project Gutenberg