Definition of chestnut
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: any of a genus (Castanea) of trees or shrubs of the beech family
especially
: an American tree (C. dentata) that was formerly a dominant or codominant member of many deciduous forests of the eastern U.S. but has now been largely eliminated by the chestnut blight and seldom grows beyond the shrub or sapling stage
b
: the edible nut of a chestnut
c
: the wood of a chestnut
2
: a grayish to reddish brown
3
: horse chestnut
4
: a chestnut-colored animal
specifically
: a horse having a body color of any shade of pure or reddish brown with mane, tail, and points of the same or a lighter shade — compare bay entry 2 sense 1, sorrel entry 1 sense 1
5
: a callosity on the inner side of the leg of the horse — see horse illustration
6a
: an old joke or story
b
: something (such as a musical piece or a saying) repeated to the point of staleness
chestnut
adjectiveDefinition of chestnut (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: of the color chestnut
2
: of, relating to, or resembling a chestnut
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for chestnut
The first known use of chestnut was in 1519
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