cedar
UK[ˈsiːdə]US[ˈsiːdɚ]
n
a tall, wide evergreen tree with needle-like leaves and hard, reddish, sweet-smelling wood.
n
the wood of the cedar tree.
Etymology
the word "cedar" has a long journey through mediterranean languages. its ultimate source is believed to be a semitic root, seen in hebrew "qāṭar," meaning "to smoke," likely referring to the tree's aromatic, resinous wood used for incense. the ancient greeks adopted it as "kedros," which the romans borrowed as "cedrus." entering english via old french, the word's spelling and pronunciation simplified over time. the core semantic link has remained remarkably stable, consistently denoting the prized, fragrant evergreen tree and its timber.
Analysis
the word "cedar" is a simplex loanword. it entered english from old french "cedre," which came from latin "cedrus," itself borrowed from ancient greek "κέδρος" (kedros). the greek term likely has a pre-greek, possibly semitic origin.
Examples
the chest was made of solid cedar and smelled wonderful.
they built a fence from cedar planks to withstand the weather.
the hills were covered with ancient cedar trees.