Oak \Oak\ ([=o]k), n. [OE. oke, ok, ak, AS. [=a]c; akin to D.
eik, G. eiche, OHG. eih, Icel. eik, Sw. ek, Dan. eeg.]
1. (Bot.) Any tree or shrub of the genus Quercus. The oaks
have alternate leaves, often variously lobed, and
staminate flowers in catkins. The fruit is a smooth nut,
called an acorn, which is more or less inclosed in a
scaly involucre called the cup or cupule. There are now
recognized about three hundred species, of which nearly
fifty occur in the United States, the rest in Europe,
Asia, and the other parts of North America, a very few
barely reaching the northern parts of South America and
Africa. Many of the oaks form forest trees of grand
proportions and live many centuries. The wood is usually
hard and tough, and provided with conspicuous medullary
rays, forming the silver grain.
2. The strong wood or timber of the oak.
Note: Among the true oaks in America are:
Barren oak, or
Black-jack, Q. nigra.
Basket oak, Q. Michauxii.
Black oak, Q. tinctoria; -- called also yellow or
quercitron oak.
Bur oak (see under Bur.), Q. macrocarpa; -- called also
over-cup or mossy-cup oak.
Chestnut oak, Q. Prinus and Q. densiflora.
Chinquapin oak (see under Chinquapin), Q. prinoides.
Coast live oak, Q. agrifolia, of California; -- also
called enceno.
Live oak (see under Live), Q. virens, the best of all
for shipbuilding; also, Q. Chrysolepis, of California.
Pin oak. Same as Swamp oak.
Post oak, Q. obtusifolia.
Red oak, Q. rubra.
Scarlet oak, Q. coccinea.
Scrub oak, Q. ilicifolia, Q. undulata, etc.
Shingle oak, Q. imbricaria.
Spanish oak, Q. falcata.
Swamp Spanish oak, or
Pin oak, Q. palustris.
Swamp white oak, Q. bicolor.
Water oak, Q. aguatica.
Water white oak, Q. lyrata.
Willow oak, Q. Phellos. Among the true oaks in Europe
are:
Bitter oak, or
Turkey oak, Q. Cerris (see Cerris).
Cork oak, Q. Suber.
English white oak, Q. Robur.
Evergreen oak,
Holly oak, or
Holm oak, Q. Ilex.
Kermes oak, Q. coccifera.
Nutgall oak, Q. infectoria.
Note: Among plants called oak, but not of the genus
Quercus, are:
African oak, a valuable timber tree (Oldfieldia
Africana).
Australian, or She, oak, any tree of the genus
Casuarina (see Casuarina).
Indian oak, the teak tree (see Teak).
Jerusalem oak. See under Jerusalem.
New Zealand oak, a sapindaceous tree (Alectryon
excelsum).
Poison oak, the poison ivy. See under Poison.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Blende \Blende\, n. [G., fr. blenden to blind, dazzle, deceive,
fr. blind blind. So called either in allusion to its dazzling
luster; or (Dana) because, though often resembling galena, it
yields no lead. Cf. Sphalerite.]
(Min.)
(a) A mineral, called also sphalerite, and by miners mock
lead, false galena, and black-jack. It is a zinc
sulphide, but often contains some iron. Its color is
usually yellow, brown, or black, and its luster resinous.
(b) A general term for some minerals, chiefly metallic
sulphides which have a somewhat brilliant but nonmetallic
luster.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Black-jack \Black"-jack`\, n.
1. (Min.) A name given by English miners to sphalerite, or
zinc blende; -- called also false galena. See Blende.
2. Caramel or burnt sugar, used to color wines, spirits,
ground coffee, etc.
3. A large leather vessel for beer, etc. [Obs.]
4. (Bot.) The Quercus nigra, or barren oak.
5. The ensign of a pirate.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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