noun
1. : any of several shrubs or small shrubby trees of western No. America that constitute the genus Cercocarpus of the family Rosaceae and are often important browse or forage plants ; especially : an evergreen tree ( C. ledifolius ) with cherry red to chocolate brown very hard strong heartwood that is sometimes used for turnery and carving — see feather tree 2, hardtack 2
2. : sweet birch
3. : a yew ( Taxus brevifolia ) of the Pacific coast of the United States