Entry · Friday, May 29, 2026
Plate N., General Sherman, viewed from an angle where the sky becomes optional.
Photo by Jason Hawke 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
Sequoia, General Sherman
/seh-KWOY-uh, JEN-er-ul SHUR-man/ n.- 1. A giant sequoia tree renowned for its extraordinary mass and height, particularly when viewed from ground level where the sky becomes a mere afterthought.
- 2. colloq. A botanical monument so thiccc that neighboring trees apply for witness protection.
In a sentence,
"He stood before a thiccc General Sherman, and the forest held its breath, one squirrel at a time."
Etymology,
Named after American Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman, the tree was so designated by naturalist James Wolverton in 1879. Given its size, the name was perhaps a touch optimistic.