hornbeam

noun

horn·beam | \ ˈhȯrn-ˌbēm

Definition of hornbeam

: any of a genus (Carpinus) of trees of the birch family having smooth gray bark and hard white wood

Examples of hornbeam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Frank and other scientists had observed that truffles always grew around certain trees, such as beeches, hornbeams, oaks, and pines. — Ferris Jabr, Harper's magazine, "The Story of Storytelling," 10 Mar. 2019 Harry and Meghan used florist Philippa Craddock to design their wedding flowers, and the couple included white garden roses, foxgloves, and peonies, along with branches of beech, birch, and hornbeam in their arrangements. — Maggie Maloney, Town & Country, "What Flowers Will Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank Have At Their Wedding?," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hornbeam.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for hornbeam

Middle English hernbem, from hern- (of uncertain meaning and origin) + bem "tree" — more at beam entry 1

Note: The tree name hornbeam is generally taken to be a compound of horn and the etymon represented by Modern English beam entry 1, which in Old English and early Middle English could mean "tree." However, the scant Middle English attestation—a single occurrence of the word in Chancery inquisitions as hernbem, and forms of the Hertfordshire place name Hornbeam Lane (Herinbemegatestret, Hernebemgate)—suggest that horn may have been a folk etymology from an earlier word.

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hornbeam

Definition of hornbeam

Examples of hornbeam in a Sentence

First Known Use of hornbeam

History and Etymology for hornbeam

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