[hick.o.ry] n, pl -ries [short for obs. pokahickory, fr. Virginia Algonquian pawcohiccora food prepared from pounded nuts] (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 usu. tough wood of a hickory
2: a switch or cane (as of hickory wood) used esp. for punishing a child -- hickory adj