Sumach

2 definitions found

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

  Sumac \Su"mac\, Sumach \Su"mach\, n. [F. sumac, formerly sumach
     (cf. Sp. zumaque), fr. Ar. summ[=a]q.] [Written also
     {shumac}.]
     1. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus {Rhus}, shrubs or small
        trees with usually compound leaves and clusters of small
        flowers. Some of the species are used in tanning, some in


        dyeing, and some in medicine. One, the Japanese {Rhus
        vernicifera}, yields the celebrated Japan varnish, or
        lacquer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The powdered leaves, peduncles, and young branches of
        certain species of the sumac plant, used in tanning and
        dyeing.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Poison sumac}. (Bot.) See under {Poison}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sumach
       n : a shrub or tree of the genus Rhus (usually limited to the
           non-poisonous members of the genus) [syn: {sumac}, {shumac}]