Aesculus

noun

Aes·​cu·​lus

ˈe-skyə-ləs

: a genus of trees and shrubs (family Hippocastanaceae) found in north temperate regions with palmately divided leaves, showy flowers in ample panicles, and large shiny seeds see buckeye, horse chestnut

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, going back to Latin, "a variety of oak tree"

First Known Use

circa 1809, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!