Pacific yew

noun

: a small or medium slow-growing irregularly branched yew (Taxus brevifolia) of the Pacific coast of the U.S. and Canada that yields a fine-grained hardwood and is the source of paclitaxel

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Pacific yew was circa 1890

Dictionary Entries Near Pacific yew

Cite this Entry

“Pacific yew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pacific%20yew. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Pacific yew

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!