hama

n.; pl. E. Hamadryads L. Hamadryades [ L. Hamadryas, -adis, Gr. "Amadrya`s; "a`ma together + dry^s oak, tree: cf. F. hamadryade. See Same, and Tree. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Class. Myth.) A tree nymph whose life ended with that of the particular tree, usually an oak, which had been her abode. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A large venomous East Indian snake (Ophiophagus bungarus), allied to the cobras. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., a hamadryad. See Hamadryad. ] (Zool.) The sacred baboon of Egypt (Cynocephalus Hamadryas). [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Written also hammal, hummaul, hamaul, khamal, etc. ] [ Turk. & Ar. hammāl, fr. Ar. hamala to carry. ] In Turkey and other Oriental countries, a porter or burden bearer; specif., in Western India, a palanquin bearer. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A natural family of plants comprising the genera Hamamelis; Corylopsis; Fothergilla; Liquidambar; Parrotia; and other small genera.
Syn. -- family Hamamelidaceae, witch-hazel family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a group of chiefly woody plants considered among the most primitive of angiosperms; they have a perianth poorly developed or lacking, and flowers often unisexual and often in catkins and often wind pollinated. The group contains 23 families including the Betulaceae and Fagaceae (includes the Amentiferae); sometimes it is classified as a superorder.
Syn. -- subclass Hamamelidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A genus of fossil plants of the Oligocene having flowers resembling those of the witch hazel; found in Baltic region.
Syn. -- genus Hamamelidanthum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A genus of fossil plants having wood identical with or similar to that of the witch hazel.
Syn. -- genus Hamamelidoxylon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ NL., fr. Gr. "amamhli`s a kind of medlar or service tree; "a`ma at the same time + mh^lon an apple, any tree fruit. ] (Bot.) A genus of plants which includes the witch-hazel (Hamamelis Virginica), a preparation of which is used medicinally. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. hamatus, fr. hamus hook. ] Hooked; bent at the end into a hook; hamous. [ 1913 Webster ]