red cedar

noun

1. Also called eastern red cedar, an American, coniferous tree, Juniperus virginiana, yielding a fragrant, reddish wood used for making lead pencils, etc.
2. the western red cedar, Thuja plicata.
3. the wood of these trees.

red cedar

noun

1. any of several North American coniferous trees, esp Juniperus virginiana , a juniper that has fragrant reddish wood used for making pencils, and Thuja plicata , an arbor vitae
2. the wood of any of these trees

Word History and Origins

Origin of red cedar¹

An Americanism dating back to 1675–85

Example Sentences

It turned out to be an Eastern red cedar tree that was 3,775 years old.

From NewsForKids.net

Ballard became the new lumber hub and by 1905, two years before the neighborhood officially became part of Seattle proper, these mills were producing millions of red cedar shingles a year.

From Seattle Times

I will still occasionally put on a red cedar roof, but only in the wealthiest of neighborhoods, as the price of cedar shingles is now prohibitive despite the use of the inferior quality new growth.

From Seattle Times

A Western red cedar was spared from developers in northeast Seattle after residents and the Snoqualmie tribe stepped up on behalf of the culturally modified tree.

From Seattle Times

At least 15 native Pacific Northwest tree species — including the Western red cedar — have experienced growth declines and die-offs in recent years, according to nonprofit news outlet Columbia Insight.

From Seattle Times