Main Entry:

hem·lock

Pronunciation:

\ˈhem-ˌläk\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English hemlok, from Old English hemlic

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: any of several poisonous herbs (as a poison hemlock or a water hemlock) of the carrot family having finely cut leaves and small white flowers b: a drug or lethal drink prepared from the poison hemlock2: any of a genus (Tsuga) of evergreen coniferous trees of the pine family ; also : the soft light splintery wood of a hemlock