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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.

Definition 2024

hemlock

hemlock

English

Conium maculatum, one of the umbellifers called hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla, one of the conifers called hemlock

Noun

hemlock ‎(plural hemlocks)

  1. Any of several coniferous trees, of the genus Tsuga, that grow in North America; the wood of such trees.
  2. Any of the poisonous umbelliferous plants, of the genera
    1. Conium, either Conium maculatum or Conium chaerophylloides.
    2. Cicuta, water hemlock plant.
  3. The poison obtained from these Conium and Cicuta plants.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology

From Middle English hemlok, hemeluc, from Old English hymlīc, hymlīce ‎(“hemlock, bryony, convulvus”, literally “hops-like”), from hymele ‎(“hop-vine”), from Proto-Germanic *humalaz, *humalōn, of unknown origin. Perhaps from Scythian *haumala, a diminutive of *hauma ‎(“ephedra; juice”), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma from Proto-Indo-European *seue- ‎(“to suck; juice”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈhɛmˌlɒk/

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