alcornoque

noun

al·​cor·​no·​que

ˌal-(ˌ)kȯr-ˈnō-kē

plural -s

: any of several tropical American trees felt to resemble the cork oak

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese (also, cork tree) & American Spanish alcornoque, both from Spanish, cork tree, probably from a 12th century Arabic dialect (Spain) word formed from Arabic al the + Medieval Latin quernus oak tree (from Latin, oaken, from quercus oak tree) + Medieval Latin -occus (diminutive & pejorative suffix)

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

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