What does hickory mean?
Hickory is a North American tree of the walnut family, valued for its hard, durable wood and its edible nuts. The name can refer to the tree itself, its timber, a hickory nut, or the distinctive smoky flavor associated with hickory wood used in cooking. Hickory wood is especially useful for tool handles, furniture, and similar products because it is strong and resists wear, while hickory smoke is prized in barbecue cooking. In everyday American English, the word can also be used informally and sometimes disparagingly for a person regarded as unsophisticated. These figurative uses are less formal than the tree-related meanings, which are standard in woodworking, agriculture, food, and regional traditions.
nounA tree of the walnut family, especially the true hickories, that bears edible nuts and produces tough, durable wood. The word can also refer to the wood, the nuts, or a food flavor derived from them.
- Any tree in the hickory genus Carya, especially the true hickories, which produce edible nuts.
- The tough wood of a hickory tree, used for tool handles, furniture, flooring, and fuel.
- A hickory nut, or the flavor associated with hickory nuts and hickory smoke.
"The hickory smoke gave the barbecue a distinctly rich, savory flavor."
"The old hickory tree behind the farmhouse provided shade for generations of children."
"She added hickory wood to the smoker and let the smoke flavor the brisket overnight."
The plural is used for individual trees or, less commonly, for the nuts.
"The hickories along the roadside dropped nuts throughout the autumn."
Hickory nuts are famously hard to crack, but their rich flavor has made the wood a prized fuel for traditional barbecue smokers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hickory come from?
The word entered English from an Indigenous language of the eastern United States, probably through a form associated with the Powhatan peoples. Its precise source form and phonetic development are not entirely certain, but the word has been established in English for several centuries. The name became attached to several closely related trees that produce hard-shelled nuts and strong timber.
How hickory is actually used
The word is most common in North American English. In informal American usage, 'hickory' can sometimes refer to an unsophisticated or rural person, but this use may sound dismissive or dated.
Easily confused with hickory
A hick is a person considered unsophisticated or unfamiliar with city life, whereas hickory primarily names a tree, its nut, its wood, or its flavor.