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Definition of shagbark hickory
shagbark hickory
Plural:shagbark hickories
shagbark hickory Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A large deciduous tree native to eastern North America, easily recognized by its loose, peeling strips of bark and the production of sweet, edible nuts.
Example
"The children spent the autumn afternoon gathering baskets full of sweet nuts that had fallen from the old shagbark hickory in the meadow."
2
North American The heavy, dense, and highly shock-resistant wood of this tree, traditionally used for tool handles, furniture, and smoking meat.
Example
"He preferred an axe with a handle made of solid shagbark hickory due to its renowned strength and durability."
Word Origin & Etymology
The name 'shagbark' refers to the tree's distinctive peeling, shaggy outer bark. 'Hickory' derives from the Algonquian word 'pawcohiccora', an oily liquid food made from pounded nuts.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shagbark hickory. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shagbark hickory