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hemlock

hemlock


hem·lock    Audio Help   (hěm'lŏk')   

n.  

    1. Any of various coniferous evergreen trees of the genus Tsuga of North America and eastern Asia, having small cones and short flat leaves with two white bands underneath.

    2. The wood of such trees, used as a source of lumber, wood pulp, and tannic acid.

    3. Any of several poisonous plants of the genera Conium and Cicuta, such as the poison hemlock.

    4. A poison obtained from the poison hemlock.

    1. Any of several poisonous plants of the genera Conium and Cicuta, such as the poison hemlock.

    2. A poison obtained from the poison hemlock.


[Middle English hemlok, poisonous hemlock, from Old English hymlice, hemlic.]
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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