alerce

noun

aler·​ce

variants or alerse

ə-ˈler-sə

plural alerces or alerses

1

: the wood of the sandarac tree of Morocco

2

: a slow-growing evergreen tree (Fitzroya cupressoides) of southern Chile and Argentina that has small, scalelike leaves in whorls of three, furrowed, reddish bark, irregular branching, and small, roundish cones composed of nine scales and that is highly valued for its durable, reddish-brown wood

called also Patagonian cypress

Word History

Etymology

Spanish alerce larch, from Arabic al-arz the larch

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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