cypress

(sī′prəs)

adjective

designating a family (Cupressaceae) of conifers including the junipers

Origin: ME cipres < OFr < LL(Ec) cypressus, for L cupressus < Gr kyparissos

noun

any of a genus (Cupressus) of evergreen, cone-bearing trees of the cypress family, native to North America, Europe, and Asia, with dark foliage and a distinctive symmetrical form
any of a number of related trees, including the baldcypress and white cedar
the wood of any of these trees
the branches or sprigs of the cypress, used as a symbol of mourning

noun

any of various textile fabrics, originally made in Cyprus; specif., a fine, gauzelike lawn or silk: in black, it was often worn for mourning

Origin: ME cipres, after OFr Cipre, Cyprus

See cypress in American Heritage Dictionary 4

cy·press

noun

a. Any of various evergreen trees or shrubs of the genus Cupressus, native to Eurasia and North America and having opposite, scalelike leaves and globose woody cones.
b. Any of several similar or related coniferous trees, such as the bald cypress.
c. The wood of any of these trees.
Cypress branches used as a symbol of mourning.

Origin: Middle English cipres, from Old French, from Late Latin cypressus, probably blend of Latin cupressus and cyparissus (from Greek kuparissos).

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