[tu.pe.lo] n, pl -los [perh. fr. Creek ito opilwa swamp tree] (ca. 1730) 1: any of a genus (Nyssa of the family Nyssaceae) of No. American and Asian deciduous trees that have simple alternate leaves, small greenish dioecious stalked flowers, and a rounded drupe; esp: black gum
2: the pale soft wood of a tupelo