The Amerindian origins of the word 'hickory'

'Hickory' is a word borrowed from Amerindian 'pawcohiccora'. The word entered the English language some time around 1670.

hickory [noun] [1670]

• any of a genus (Carya) of North American hardwood trees of the walnut family that often have sweet edible nuts
• the usually tough wood of a hickory
• a switch or cane (as of hickory wood) used especially for punishing a child

See 'hickory' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Amerindian.

Etymology: Short for obsolete 'pokahickory' from Virginia Algonquian 'pawcohiccora' food prepared from pounded nuts

See more loan words from 1600s.