yaupon

or ya·pon

[ yaw-pon ]

noun

1. a holly shrub or small tree, Ilex vomitoria, of the southern U.S., having bitter leaves that are sometimes brewed as a tea.

yaupon

/ ˈjɔːpən /

noun

1. a southern US evergreen holly shrub, Ilex vomitoria, with spreading branches, scarlet fruits, and oval leaves: used as a substitute for tea

Word History and Origins

Origin of yaupon¹

1700–10, Americanism; < Catawba yą́pą, equivalent to yą- wood, tree + pą leaf

Word History and Origins

Origin of yaupon¹

from Catawba yopun shrub, diminutive of yop tree

Example Sentences

Call these trendlets: In the beverage category, yaupon tea from the American holly tree, is on a lot of lists for 2023, along with coffee drinks made with fruit purée and milk, or roasted in a style called white coffee.

From New York Times

Olivia Ayala, 66, said she was standing at the stove in her mobile home frying fish and French fries when the tornado moved through her area of Onalaska, known as Yaupon Cove.

From New York Times

He crossed a shallow ditch and ducked under cedar limbs to enter a natural Outer Banks habitat of wax myrtles, prickly pear and yaupon - an oasis among shopping centers and restaurants.

From Washington Times

He crossed a shallow ditch and ducked under cedar limbs to enter a natural Outer Banks habitat of wax myrtles, prickly pear and yaupon — an oasis among shopping centers and restaurants.

From Seattle Times

One patch covered by scrubby yaupon bushes appears sunken where floods may have swept away caskets.

From Washington Times