any tree of the betulaceous genus Carpinus, such as C. betulus of Europe and Asia, having smooth grey bark and hard white wood
2.
the wood of any of these trees
Brit equivalent: ironwood
Word origin
C14: from horn + beam, referring to its tough wood
hornbeam in American English
(ˈhɔrnˌbim)
noun
1.
any of a genus (Carpinus) of small, hardy trees of the birch family, with smooth, gray bark and drooping catkins with flat, papery bracts around a greenish nut
2.
the very hard, white wood of this tree, which takes a hornlike polish and is used for tool handles, etc.
Word origin
horn + beam
Examples of 'hornbeam' in a sentence
hornbeam
Hornbeam loses its leaves earlier and has a leafless period before it greens up again.