smoke tree
noun
Also called American smoke tree, chittamwood.
a tree, Cotinus obovatus, of the cashew family, native to the southeastern U.S., having egg-shaped leaves and large clusters of small white flowers.
Also called Venetian sumac.
a related shrub, C. coggygria, of Eurasia, having elliptical leaves and clusters of hairy, purple flowers.
Origin of smoke tree
First recorded in 1840–50
Words nearby smoke tree
smoke out,
smoke pot,
smoke screen,
smoke shelf,
smoke shop,
smoke tree,
smoke-dried,
smoke-dry,
smoke-eater,
smoke-filled room,
smokechaser
Example sentences from the Web for smoke tree
The Venetian sumach or smoke-tree (R. Cotinus) is commonly planted for ornament.
Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany |Douglas Houghton CampbellFustet, fus′tet, n. the smoke-tree or Venetian sumach, or its wood.
British Dictionary definitions for smoke tree
smoke tree
noun
an anacardiaceous shrub, Cotinus coggygria, of S Europe and Asia, having clusters of yellowish feathery flowers
a related tree, Cotinus americanus, of the southern US
Word Origin for smoke tree
C19: so named because of the similarity between its flower clusters and a cloud of smoke