Cypresses

1 definition found

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

  Cypress \Cy"press\ (s?"pr?s), n.; pl. {Cypresses} (-?z). [OE.
     cipres, cipresse, OF. cipres, F. cypr?s, L. cupressus,
     cyparissus (cf. the usual Lat. form cupressus), fr. Gr. ????,
     perh. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. g?pher, Gen. vi. 14.] (Bot)
     A coniferous tree of the genus {Cupressus}. The species are
     mostly evergreen, and have wood remarkable for its


     durability.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Among the trees called cypress are the common Oriental
           cypress, {Cupressus sempervirens}, the evergreen
           American cypress, {Cupressus thyoides} (now called
           {Chamaecyparis sphaeroidea}), and the deciduous
           American cypress, {Taxodium distichum}. As having
           anciently been used at funerals, and to adorn tombs,
           the Oriental species is an emblem of mourning and
           sadness.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Cypress vine} (Bot.), a climbing plant with red or white
        flowers ({Ipot[oe]a Quamoclit}, formerly {Quamoclit
        vulgaris}).
        [1913 Webster]