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Webster 1913 Edition

Hemlock

Hem′lock

,
Noun.
[OE.
hemeluc
,
humloc
, AS.
hemlic
,
hymlic
.]
1.
(Bot.)
The name of several poisonous umbelliferous herbs having finely cut leaves and small white flowers, as the
Cicuta maculata
,
Cicuta bulbifera
, and
Cicuta virosa
, and the
Conium maculatum
. See
Conium
.
☞ The potion of hemlock administered to Socrates is by some thought to have been a decoction of
Cicuta virosa
, or water hemlock, by others, of
Conium maculatum
.
2.
(Bot.)
An evergreen tree common in North America (
Abies Canadensis
or
Tsuga Canadensis
); hemlock spruce.
The murmuring pines and the
hemlocks
.
Longfellow.
3.
The wood or timber of the hemlock tree.
Ground hemlock
, or
Dwarf hemlock
.
See under
Ground
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Hemlock

HEM'LOCK

, n.
1.
A plant of the genus Conium, whose leaves and root are poisonous. Also, the Cicuta maculata.
2.
A tree of the genus Pinus, an evergreen.
3.
A poison, an infusion or decoction of the poisonous plant.
Popular liberty might then have escaped the indelible reproach of decreeing to the same citizens the hemlock on one day, and statues on the next.

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