any tropical or subtropical gymnosperm plant of the phylum Cycadophyta, having an unbranched stem with fernlike leaves crowded at the top
See also sago palm (sense 2)
Derived forms
cycadaceous (ˌcycaˈdaceous)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from New Latin Cycas name of genus, from Greek kukas, scribe's error for koïkas, from koïx a kind of palm, probably of Egyptian origin
cycad in American English
(ˈsaɪˌkæd)
noun
any of a class (Cycadatae) of gymnospermous tropical shrubs and trees resemblingthick-stemmed palms, with crowns of leathery, fernlike leaves and large cones containing fleshy seeds
Word origin
ModL Cycas (gen. Cycadis) < Gr kykas, erroneous sp. for koïkas, acc. pl. of koïx, doum palm