walnut
(Science: botany) The fruit or nut of any tree of the genus juglans; also, the tree, and its timber. The seven or eight known species are all natives of the north temperate zone.
In some parts of America, especially in new England, the name walnut is given to several species of hickory (Carya), and their fruit. Ash-leaved walnut, a tree (juglans fraxinifolia), native in transcaucasia. Black walnut, a North American tree (J. Nigra) valuable for its purplish brown wood, which is extensively used in cabinetwork and for gunstocks. The nuts are thick-shelled, and nearly globular. English, or European, walnut, a tree (J. Regia), native of asia from the Caucasus to japan, valuable for its timber and for its excellent nuts, which are also called madeira nuts. Walnut brown, a deep warm brown colour, like that of the heartwood of the black walnut. Walnut oil, oil extracted from walnut meats. It is used in cooking, making soap, etc. White walnut, a North American tree (J. Cinerea), bearing long, oval, thick-shelled, oily nuts, commonly called butternuts. See Butternut.
Origin: OE. Walnot, AS. Wealh-hnutu a Welsh or foreign nut, a walnut; wealh foreign, strange, n, a Welshman, Celt (akin to OHG. Walh, properly, a Celt, from the name of a Celtic tribe, in L. Volcae) – hnutu a nut; akin to D. Walnoot, G. Walnuss, Icel. Valhnot, Sw. Valnot, Dan valnod. See Nut, and cf. Welsh.
Dictionary > Walnut
You will also like...

New Zealand’s Unique Geographical History
Explore why New Zealand has such unique flora and fauna, and learn why long periods of geographical isolation. This less..

The Conscious & Unconscious Nervous System
This tutorial elaborates on how the nervous system works, particularly at the tissue level of the brain. There are three..

Homeostatic Mechanisms and Cellular Communication
Homeostasis is the relatively stable conditions of the internal environment that result from compensatory regulatory res..

Biological Cell Defense
Organisms employ different strategies to boost its defenses against antigens. Humans have an immune system to combat pat..

Photosynthesis – Photolysis and Carbon Fixation
Photosynthesis is the process that plants undertake to create organic materials from carbon dioxide and water, with the ..

Circulation
The circulatory system is key to the transport of vital biomolecules and nutrients throughout the body. Learn about the ..