noun
Etymology: so called from the persistence of the bases of dead branches which resemble pins driven into the trunk
: any of several American oaks (as a bastard oak or laurel oak) ; especially : a large symmetrical pyramidal oak ( Quercus palustris ) that is native to the northeastern United States but widespread in cultivation and has deeply pinnatifid leaves which turn brilliant red in the fall and rather small almost hemispherical acorns — called also swamp oak