hemlock
[ hem-lok ]
/ ˈhɛmˌlɒk /
noun
a poisonous plant, Conium maculatum, of the parsley family, having purple-spotted stems, finely divided leaves, and umbels of small white flowers, used medicinally as a powerful sedative.
a poisonous drink made from this plant.
any of various other plants, especially of the genus Cicuta, as the water hemlock.
Also called hemlock spruce.
any of several coniferous trees of the genus Tsuga, native to the U.S., characterized by a pyramidal manner of growth.
Compare eastern hemlock, western hemlock.
the soft, light wood of a hemlock tree, used in making paper, in the construction of buildings, etc.
Origin of hemlock
before 900; Middle English
hemlok, humlok, Old English
hymlic, hemlic; perhaps akin to Old English
hymele hop plant
Words nearby hemlock
hemizygosity,
hemizygote,
hemizygotic,
hemizygous,
hemline,
hemlock,
hemlock looper,
hemmer,
hemo-,
hemoblast,
hemoblastosis
Example sentences from the Web for hemlock
British Dictionary definitions for hemlock
hemlock
/ (ˈhɛmˌlɒk) /
noun
an umbelliferous poisonous Eurasian plant, Conium maculatum, having finely divided leaves, spotted stems, and small white flowers
US name: poison hemlock See also water hemlock
a poisonous drug derived from this plant
Also called: hemlock spruce
any coniferous tree of the genus Tsuga, of North America and E Asia, having short flat needles: family Pinaceae
See also western hemlock
the wood of any of these trees, used for lumber and as a source of wood pulp
Word Origin for hemlock
Old English
hymlic; perhaps related to
hymele hop plant, Middle Low German
homele, Old Norwegian
humli, Old Slavonic
chǔmelï