hickory

noun

hick·​o·​ry ˈhi-k(ə-)rē How to pronounce hickory (audio)
plural hickories
1
a
: any of a genus (Carya) of North American hardwood trees of the walnut family that often have sweet edible nuts
b
: the usually tough wood of a hickory
2
: a switch or cane (as of hickory wood) used especially for punishing a child
hickory adjective

Examples of hickory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, your best bet for seeing the glorious reds, oranges, or yellows of the oak, hickory, and maple trees along the route will be mid to late October. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025 The 200,000-acre park is covered with beech, birch and hickory trees that turn yellow, while black gums and maples offer shades of red. Graham Averill, Outside, 26 Sep. 2025 Originating at the Stanford House, a historic farmhouse built in 1843, the hike reveals fantastic views of the 65-foot Brandywine Falls with lots of tall oak, hickory, and beech trees along the way. Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025 Since 1962 the Monk family has been cooking pork shoulders on closed brick pits directly over glowing oak and hickory coals. Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hickory

Word History

Etymology

short for obsolete pokahickory, from Virginia Algonquian pawcohiccora food prepared from pounded nuts

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hickory was in 1670

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Hickory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hickory. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

hickory

noun
hick·​o·​ry ˈhik-(ə-)rē How to pronounce hickory (audio)
plural hickories
1
: any of a genus of North American trees related to the walnut and having an edible nut with a hard shell
2
: the usually tough pale wood of a hickory

Geographical Definition

Hickory

geographical name

Hick·​o·​ry ˈhi-kə-rē How to pronounce Hickory (audio)
city in west central North Carolina population 40,010

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