E. Cobham Brewer 18101897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Sycamore and Sycomore.
Sycamore is the plane-tree of the maple family (Acer pseudo-platnus, or greater maple). The sycomore is the Egyptian fig-tree (Greek, sukomoros, sukos, a fig). The tree into which Zacchæus climbed (Luke xix. 4) to see Christ pass is wrongly called a sycamore or maple, as it was the sycomore or wild fig. The French have translated the word correctly[Il] montait sur un sycomore pour le voir.