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american linden

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American linden

–noun
See under linden (def. 1).

Origin:
1775–85, Americanism

lin⋅den

[lin-duhn]
–noun
1. any tree of the genus Tilia, as T. americana (American linden) or T. europaea (European linden), having fragrant yellowish-white flowers and heart-shaped leaves, grown as an ornamental or shade tree. Compare linden family.
2. the soft, light, white wood of any of these trees, used for making furniture and in the construction of houses, boxes, etc.

Origin:
1570–80; n. use of obs. linden (adj.) of the lime tree, ME, OE. See lime 3 , -en 2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

linden 
"the lime tree," O.E., originally an adj., "of linden wood," from O.E. lind "linden" (n.), from P.Gmc. *lindo (cf. O.S. linda, O.N. lind, O.H.G. linta, Ger. linde), probably from PIE *lent- "flexible," with ref. to the tree's pliant bast. "The recent currency of the word is prob. due to its use in translations of German romance, as an adoption of G. linden pl. of linde, or as the first element in the comb. lindenbaum = 'linden-tree.' " [OED]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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