Lexic.us

Definition of Pride-of-India

1. Noun. Tree of northern India and China having purple blossoms and small inedible yellow fruits; naturalized in the southern United States as a shade tree.

2. Noun. Native to Asia, Australia, and East Indies, where it provides timber called pyinma; used elsewhere as an ornamental for its large showy flowers.

Lexicographical Neighbors of Pride-of-India

prickmadam prickpunch prickpunches pricks prickshaft prickshafts pricksong pricksongs prickteaser prickteasers

prickwood prickwoods pricky pricy pride-of-India (current term) pride comes before a fall pride cometh before a fall pride goes before a fall pride goeth before a fall pride of Bolivia

pride of California pride of barbados pride of place pride oneself pride wenteth before a fall prided prideful pridefully pridefulness

Literary usage of Pride-of-India

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The North American Sylva, Or, A Description of the Forest Trees, of the by François André Michaux, Augustus Lucas Hillhouse (1819)
"The Pride of India rises to the height of 3o or<> feet, with a diameter of 15 or 20 inches ; but, when standing alone, it usually rests at a smaller ..."

2. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"See FAIRFAX, CROMWELL, and CHARLES I. PRIDE OF INDIA, PRIDE OF CHINA, a tree (Melia azedarach), of the mahogany family, a native of Lebanon, Syria, ..."

3. Travels Through Canada, and the United States of North America, in the Years by John Lambert (1814)
"... Tree—Pernicious Effects of the Pride of India—Turkey Buzzards—Dead Horses— The Golgotha—Negligence of the Municipality —Public Buildings—The Orphan ..."

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