n.
Pronunciation: ' hi-k( ə -)r ē
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ries
Etymology: short for obsolete pokahickory, from Virginia Algonquian pawcohiccora food prepared from pounded nuts
Date: 1670
1 a : any of a genus ( Carya ) of No. American hardwood trees of the walnut family that often have sweet edible nuts b : the usually tough wood of a hickory
2 : a switch or cane (as of hickory wood) used especially for punishing a child
– hickory adjective