1. A tall deciduous tree of the genus Nyssa with simple leaves and a kind of greenish-white flower later developing into  a round stone fruit."

"Tupelos can be found in North American and Asian swamps and rivers; well known varieties are the black gum and cotton gum trees."

"Bill decided not to use tupelo for making a cabinet because the wood was too soft."

2. Etymology: American English, apparently borrowed from Algonquian (Cree) ito opilwa "swamp tree".