spicebush

[ spahys-boosh ]

noun

1. Also called spice-wood. a yellow-flowered, North American shrub, Lindera benzoin, of the laurel family, whose bark and leaves have a spicy odor.
2. a North American shrub, Calycanthus occidentalis, having oblong leaves and fragrant, light-brown flowers.

spicebush

/ ˈspaɪsˌbʊʃ /

noun

1. a North American lauraceous shrub, Lindera benzoin, having yellow flowers and aromatic leaves and bark

Word History and Origins

Origin of spicebush¹

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70; spice + bush ¹

Example Sentences

Prospect Park in May is a commotion of beauty: meadows and dense rambles, hills and hollows, everything covered in chokeberries, spicebush, violets, flowering hawthorns, magnolias and lindens.

From New York Times

I see lesser celandine choking the wildflowers, and winged euonymus and Japanese honeysuckle crowding out native spicebush.

From Washington Post

Laurel wilt is transmitted by the wood-boring redbay ambrosia beetle and can affect a range of plants, including sassafras and spicebush.

From Washington Times

It can affect a range of plants, including sassafras and spicebush.

From Washington Times

He also infuses a New American style dry gin with local spicebush, sometimes called Appalachian allspice, among other botanicals.

From New York Times