Chinese cinnamon

noun

: the dried bark of a southeast Asian tree (Cinnamomum cassia synonym C. aromaticum) that yields a somewhat sweet and spicy variety of cassia sold as cinnamon

also : the powdered spice produced from Chinese cinnamon bark compare ceylon cinnamon, indonesian cinnamon, saigon cinnamon

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Chinese cinnamon

noun

Chi·​nese cinnamon chī-ˌnēz-, -ˌnēs- 

1

: the bark of a southeast Asian tree of the genus Cinnamomum (C. cassia) that is the source of cinnamon oil

called also cassia bark

2

: the tree that yields Chinese cinnamon