chestnut Definition

chestnut
noun

1. A deciduous tree, native to S Europe and W Asia and widely cultivated elsewhere, which has simple toothed glossy leaves, erect catkins with yellow male flowers above and green female flowers below, and prickly globular fruits containing large edible nuts.

Form: sweet chestnut (also)
2. The large reddish-brown edible nut produced by this tree, which can be roasted and eaten.
3. A large spreading deciduous tree, native to the Balkans and widely cultivated elsewhere, which has pyramidal spikes of white-petalled flowers with yellow and pink spots, and brown shiny inedible seeds, popularly known as conkers.

Form: horse chestnut (also)
4. The hard timber of either of these trees.
5. A reddish-brown colour, especially of hair.
6. A reddish-brown horse.
7. An often-repeated joke or anecdote.

Idiom: pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire

colloq
To rescue them from difficulties.

Etymology: 16c: from the earlier chesten nut, from Latin castanea chestnut tree.