I. ˈash noun
Etymology: Middle English asshe, from Old English æsc; akin to Old High German ask ash, Latin ornus mountain ash
Date: before 12th century
1. : any of a genus ( Fraxinus ) of trees of the olive family with pinnate leaves, thin furrowed bark, and gray branchlets
2. : the tough elastic wood of an ash
3.
[Old English æsc, name of the corresponding runic letter]
: the ligature æ used in Old English and some phonetic alphabets to represent a low front vowel a
[
ash 1
]
II. noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English asshe, from Old English asce — more at arid
Date: before 12th century
1. : something that symbolizes grief, repentance, or humiliation
2.
a. : the solid residue left when combustible material is thoroughly burned or is oxidized by chemical means
b. : fine particles of mineral matter from a volcanic vent
3. plural : the remains of the dead human body after cremation or disintegration
4. plural : deathly pallor
the lip of ash es and the cheek of flame — Lord Byron
5. plural : ruins
• ash·less -ləs adjective
III. transitive verb
Date: circa 1894
: to convert into ash