[Fr., from Gr. kastanon, a chestnut.]

A tree with white or red flowers like spikes, and a fruit of a reddish-brown color, enclosed in a green prickly husk, the nuts being covered by a thick firm skin. The timber is hard and lasting, and used for ornamen-t a 1 work, fur-niture, etc. The bark is used in tanning. The chestnut is found in Europe, America and Japan. The European chestnut bears a much larger fruit than the American, but not so sweet. Its starchy contents are used for bread-making in Italy.