chinquapin

[ching-kuh-pin] /ˈtʃɪŋ kə pɪn/
noun
1.
a shrubby chestnut, Castanea pumila, of the beech family, native to the southeastern U.S., having toothed, oblong leaves and small edible nuts.
2.
a Pacific coast evergreen tree, Castanopsis chrysophylla, of the beech family, having deeply furrowed bark, dark green lance-shaped leaves, and inedible nuts.
3.
the nut of either of these trees.
Also, chincapin, chinkapin.
Also called golden chinquapin.
Origin
1605-15, Americanism; < Virginia Algonquian (E spelling) chechinquamins
Examples from the web for chinquapin
  • The savanna is noted for its large component of chinquapin oak, here at the northern limit of its range.
  • Down slope of the ridge top it is not uncommon to see regenerating redwood trees mixed amongst manzanita and chinquapin.
British Dictionary definitions for chinquapin

chinquapin

/ˈtʃɪŋkəpɪn/
noun
1.
a dwarf chestnut tree, Castanea pumila, of the eastern US, yielding edible nuts
2.
Also called giant chinquapin. a large evergreen fagaceous tree, Castanopsis chrysophylla, of W North America
3.
the nut of either of these trees
Compare water chinquapin
Word Origin
C17: of Algonquian origin; compare Algonquian chechinkamin chestnut
Encyclopedia Article for chinquapin

any of several species of deciduous trees of the genus Castanea and evergreen trees and shrubs of the genus Castanopsis, both in the beech family (Fagaceae).

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