Espalier
/ɪˈspæl.jɚ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A latticework used to shape or train the branches of a tree or shrub into a two-dimensional ornamental or useful design, as along a wall or fence.
"The garment stalls carried the traditional blue vine-dressers' outfits, sunhats, and the great willow pitchforks grown in espalier at villages like Sauve."
- 2 a trellis on which ornamental shrub or fruit tree is trained to grow flat wordnet
- 3 A plant that has been shaped in this manner.
"It is on this rocky surface that one finds many of the growth forms associated with extreme life conditions: polsters, mat plants, espaliers."
- 4 A row of plants that have been shaped in this manner.
"Often some night-animal, hedgehog or weasel, setting out on the hunt, disturbed the lovers, or sometimes they heard a ripe peach falling all alone from the espalier."
Verb
- 1 To train a plant in this manner.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"The garment stalls carried the traditional blue vine-dressers' outfits, sunhats, and the great willow pitchforks grown in espalier at villages like Sauve."
Etymology
Borrowed from French espalier, from Italian spalliera, from spalla (“shoulder”).