sycamore

/sik"euh mawr', -mohr'/, n.

1. Also called buttonwood. any of several North American plane trees, esp. Platanus occidentalis, having shallowly lobed ovate leaves, globular seed heads, and wood valued as timber.

2. Brit. the sycamore maple.

3. a tree, Ficus sycomorus, of the Near East, related to the common fig, bearing an edible fruit.

[1300-50; ME sicomore < OF < L sycomorus < Gk sykómoros, equiv. to syko(n) fig + mór(on) mulberry + -os n. suffix, appar. by folk etymology < Sem; cf. Heb shiqmah sycamore]

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Any of several distinct trees called by the same name though in different genera and families.

In the U.S. the term refers to the American plane tree or buttonwood (Platanus occidentalis), a hardy street tree. The sycamore maple, or mock plane (Acer pseudoplatanus), is sometimes also called simply sycamore. The biblical sycamore, actually the sycamore fig (Ficus sycomorus), was used by the ancient Egyptians to make mummy cases.

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▪ tree

 any of several distinct trees. In the United States it refers especially to the American plane tree (q.v.). The sycamore of the Bible is better termed sycamore fig (see also fig), notable for its use by ancient Egyptians to make mummy cases. The sycamore maple, or mock plane (Acer pseudoplatanus), is sometimes also called, simply, sycamore.

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