black poisonwood

noun

variants or black poison
: a tree (Metopium brownei of the family Anacardiaceae) native to southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and the West Indies that has a severely irritating sap and yields a dark close-grained hardwood
He's a bushman who knows bush lore, … knows which trees shelter the howler monkeys, knows the poisonous black tarry sap from the black poisonwood and the antidote in the red gumbolimbo tree that usually grows nearby.Jane P. Marshall, The Houston Chronicle, 4 Feb. 1996

called also chechem

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near black poisonwood

Cite this Entry

“Black poisonwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20poisonwood. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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