chestnut
chestnut Lexical Profile
chestnut Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Having a rich, glossy reddish-brown color resembling the shell of a chestnut.
"Her long chestnut hair caught the warm glow of the afternoon sun."
• noun
The glossy, reddish-brown edible nut of a chestnut tree, enclosed in a prickly bur and widely roasted or used in cooking and baking.
"Street vendors in the city square sold paper cones filled with warm roasted chestnuts."
Any of several large deciduous trees of the genus Castanea in the beech family (Fagaceae), native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and bearing serrated leaves and edible nuts in spiny burs.
"The old chestnut in the center of the village provided generous shade throughout the summer."
A deep, glossy reddish-brown color resembling that of a chestnut shell.
"The antique desk was stained a rich chestnut that complemented the hardwood floor."
A horse with a reddish-brown coat and a mane and tail of the same or a lighter shade, having no black points.
"The rider entered the dressage arena mounted on a spirited thoroughbred chestnut."
A joke, story, song, or topic that has been repeated so often that it has become stale and tiresome.
"The comedian ended his set with an old chestnut that the audience had heard dozens of times."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Altered in the 16th century from Middle English 'chesteine nut', where 'chesteine' derived from Old French 'chastaigne', via Latin 'castanea', from Ancient Greek 'kastanea'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.