hemlock
UK[ˈhɛmlɒk]US[ˈhɛmlɑːk]
n
A highly poisonous plant with small white flowers and finely divided leaves.
n
A poison made from the hemlock plant.
n
(also hemlock fir) A type of North American evergreen tree of the pine family.
Etymology
The word 'hemlock' entered English from Old English, but its ultimate origins are obscure and debated. It is not a compound of classical roots but a name that likely evolved from a now-lost source word for the plant. The term's primary association has always been with the poisonous herb, famously used in the execution of Socrates. Over time, through exploration and botanical classification, the name was also applied to several large, non-poisonous coniferous trees in North America due to a perceived similarity in the scent of their crushed foliage to that of the poisonous plant.
Analysis
The word 'hemlock' is a simplex form. It is a loanword from Old English 'hemlic' or 'hymlice', of uncertain origin, referring to the poisonous plant.
Examples
Socrates was condemned to drink a cup of hemlock.
The forest path was shaded by tall hemlocks.
It is crucial to be able to identify hemlock to avoid accidental poisoning.