SUMAC
What does "SUMAC" mean?
A shrub or small tree of the genus Rhus, some species yielding a tart red spice used in Middle Eastern cooking.
Meanings
- A shrub or small tree of the genus Rhus, often with compound leaves and conical clusters of red berries. The sumac along the roadside turned crimson in October.
- A tart, lemony reddish spice ground from the dried berries of certain sumac species, used in Middle Eastern dishes. She dusted the grilled chicken with sumac and salt. technical
Did you know?
- Culinary sumac and poison ivy are botanical cousins in the same family (Anacardiaceae) - but the tart red spice on your hummus comes from harmless species, while the toxic relatives bear white berries, not red.
Word origin
From Old French 'sumac', via Medieval Latin 'sumach', from Arabic 'summaq', the name for the plant.
Remember it
SUMAC: 'SU' plus 'MAC' - picture a tart red MAC computer dusted on your kebab.
A little poem
Red cones lean roadside-
ground to a sour crimson dust
that tastes of late sun.
haiku
Wordplay
- Why did the chef trust the red berries but not the white? One sumac seasons dinner; its pale cousin seasons a rash.
What it teaches
Kinship is no proof of character; the same family can hold the cure and the rash.
Quick facts
What does SUMAC mean?
A shrub or small tree of the genus Rhus, some species yielding a tart red spice used in Middle Eastern cooking.
Is SUMAC a valid word?
Yes — SUMAC is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is SUMAC?
SUMAC has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does SUMAC come from?
From Old French 'sumac', via Medieval Latin 'sumach', from Arabic 'summaq', the name for the plant.
What can SUMAC teach us?
Kinship is no proof of character; the same family can hold the cure and the rash.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.