red els

noun

-ˈelz

plural red elses

: a southern African shrub or small tree (Cunonia capensis) having bark that yields tannin

Word History

Etymology

partial translation of Afrikaans rooie-els, from rooie red + els alder, from Middle High German else; akin to Old High German elira, erila alder

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!