1. A small North American tree or shrub of the beech family, bearing edible nuts similar to chestnuts.
Usage: Also spelled chinkapin or chinquapin; Regional, primarily eastern and southern United States
2. The small, sweet, edible nut produced by the chincapin tree.

Examples

• The chincapin tree grows wild in the forests of the southeastern United States.
• Children would gather chincapins in the fall to roast over a fire.
• The chincapin nut is smaller and sweeter than a regular chestnut.
• Native Americans traditionally harvested chincapins as a food source.
• You can find chincapin trees along the edges of woodlands and streams.