Osage Orange (Noun)
Meaning
Small shrubby deciduous yellowwood tree of south central United States having spines, glossy dark green leaves and an inedible fruit that resembles an orange; its hard orange-colored wood used for bows by Native Americans; frequently planted as boundary hedge.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The native American tribe used the wood of the osage orange tree to craft their powerful hunting bows for generations.
- As the sun rose over the Oklahoma plains it cast its golden light upon the Osage orange fences that marked the boundary lines of the sprawling ranch.
- Osage orange trees were often used as a natural barrier to keep livestock from wandering off the property.
- The osage orange tree's unique fruit was often mistaken for an orange due to its vibrant orange color but was actually inedible.
- The osage orange tree's wood was highly prized by the early settlers for its strength and durability making it ideal for crafting tools and furniture.