/hem"lok'/ , n.
1. a poisonous plant, Conium maculatum, of the parsley family, having purple-spotted stems, finely divided leaves, and umbels of small white flowers, used medicinally as a powerful sedative.
2. a poisonous drink made from this plant.
3. any of various other plants, esp. of the genus Cicuta, as the water hemlock.
4. Also called hemlock spruce . any of several coniferous trees of the genus Tsuga, native to the U.S., characterized by a pyramidal manner of growth. Cf. eastern hemlock, western hemlock .
5. the soft, light wood of a hemlock tree, used in making paper, in the construction of buildings, etc.
[ bef. 900; ME hemlok, humlok, OE hymlic, hemlic; perh. akin to OE hymele hop plant ]