Catkin

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Catkin \Cat"kin\ (k[a^]t"k[i^]n), n. [Cat + -kin.] (Bot.)
     An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of a slender
     axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides,
     as in the willow and poplar, and (as to the staminate
     flowers) in the chestnut, oak, hickory, etc. -- so called
     from its resemblance to a cat's tail. See Illust. of {Ament}.


     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  catkin
       n : a cylindrical spikelike inflorescence [syn: {ament}]