chaparral

[shap-uh-ral, chap-] /ˌʃæp əˈræl, ˌtʃæp-/
noun, Southwestern U.S.
1.
a dense growth of shrubs or small trees.
Origin
1835-45, Americanism; < Spanish, equivalent to chaparr(o) evergreen oak (< Basque tshapar) + -al collective suffix
Examples from the web for chaparral
  • Aside from the extensive stands of live oak and sycamore, chaparral landscape predominates.
  • In addition, many chaparral plant species have adapted to the natural occurrence of fire.
  • Coastal sage scrub-chaparral scrub is a transitional community between coastal sage scrub and chaparral types.
British Dictionary definitions for chaparral

chaparral

/ˌtʃæpəˈræl; ˌʃæp-/
noun
1.
(in the southwestern US) a dense growth of shrubs and trees, esp evergreen oaks
Word Origin
C19: from Spanish, from chaparra evergreen oak
Word Origin and History for chaparral
n.

"shrub thicket," 1850, American English, from Spanish chaparro "evergreen oak," perhaps from Basque txapar "little thicket," diminutive of sapar "heath, thicket."

In Spain, a chaparral is a bush of a species of oak. The termination al signifies a place abounding in; as, chaparral, a place of oak-bushes, almendral, an almond orchard; parral, a vineyard; cafetal, a coffee plantation, etc., etc.

This word, chaparral, has been introduced into the language since our acquisition of Texas and New Mexico, where these bushes abound. It is a series of thickets, of various sizes, from one hundred yards to a mile through, with bushes and briars, all covered with thorns, and so closely entwined together as almost to prevent the passage of any thing larger than a wolf or hare. [John Russell Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," 1859]