hickory

Everyday

1. A North American tree of the walnut family, with hard nuts. tree →
2. The very hard, strong wood of this tree, used for tool handles and drumsticks. tree →
3. Smoke from hickory wood, used to flavour meat: hickory-smoked bacon. tree →

In the lessons

In science and nature lessons in the USA and Canada hickory trees provide nuts for squirrels and people. In everyday life «hickory-smoked» appears on barbecue food. In nursery rhymes: «Hickory, dickory, dock, the mouse ran up the clock». Phrases: hickory nuts, hickory-smoked, hickory stick.

Examples

• «Hickory, dickory, dock, the mouse ran up the clock.» tree →
• Squirrels love to eat hickory nuts. tree →
• Axe handles are often made of hickory. tree →
• Dad's barbecue sauce has a hickory-smoked flavour. tree →
• Hickory wood is very hard and strong. tree →
• The pioneers used hickory to make wagon wheels. tree →

Note

Plural: hickories. Uncountable when it means the wood (made of hickory). Pronounced HIK-uh-ree. Pecans are a kind of hickory nut.