capulin

noun

ca·​pu·​lin
¦käpə¦lēn
variants or less commonly capuli
-lē
or capolin
-pə¦lēn
plural -s
1
: a Mexican tree (Prunus capuli) that is sometimes considered to be a form of black cherry (P. serotina) and that yields a sap used in native remedies and has edible cherries of which the kernels of the pits furnish a flour
2
: a tropical American tree (Trema micrantha) the bark of which yields a strong fiber
3
: a ground cherry (Physalis pubescens)
4
: a Mexican timber tree (Condalia obovata) whose hard wood furnishes a blue dye
5

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish capulín, capulí, from Nahuatl capulin

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Cite this Entry

“Capulin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capulin. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

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