‖n. [ From Adanson, a French botanist. ] (Bot.) A genus of great trees related to the Bombax. There are two species, Adansonia digitata, the baobab or monkey-bread of Africa and India, and Adansonia Gregorii, the sour gourd or cream-of-tartar tree of Australia. Both have a trunk of moderate height, but of enormous diameter, and a wide-spreading head. The fruit is oblong, and filled with pleasantly acid pulp. The wood is very soft, and the bark is used by the natives for making ropes and cloth. D. C. Eaton. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ F., fr. L. cantion song. See Cantion, Canzone. ] A song. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
‖ [ F., prop., song of history. ] Any Old French epic poem having for its subject events or exploits of early French history, real or legendary, and written originally in assonant verse of ten or twelve syllables. The most famous one is the
Langtoft had written in the ordinary measure of the later chansons de geste. Saintsbury. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
‖n.;
These pretty little chansonnettes that he sung. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]