[cy.press] n [ME, fr. MF cipres, fr. L cyparissus, fr. Gk kyparissos] (14c) 1 a (1): any of a genus (Cupressus of the family Cupressaceae, the cypress family) of evergreen trees and shrubs with small overlapping leaves resembling scales (2): any of several coniferous trees of the cypress family or the bald cypress family; esp: bald cypress 1 b: the wood of a cypress tree
2: branches of cypress used as a symbol of mourning
[2]cypress n [ME ciprus, cipres, fr. Cyprus, Mediterranean island] (15c): a silk or cotton usu. black gauze formerly used for mourning