| 释义 |
ˈspindle-tree
[f. spindle n., after G. spindelbaum (OHG. spindel-, spinelpaum, spinnilapoum), = MDu. spindelboom; cf. also G. spillbaum, Du. spilboom, MLG. spillebôm.]
1. An ornamental European shrub (Euonymus Europæus), furnishing a hard fine-grained yellowish wood formerly much used for spindles.
1548Turner Names Herbes (E.D.S.) 36 Euonymus..maye be called in englishe Spyndle tree or square tree. 1578Lyte Dodoens 760 Some call it..in Englishe Spindel tree, and Pricke timber: bycause the timber..serveth very well to the making both of Prickes and Spindelles. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts 240 The prickle or spindle tree (called also Euonimus) which groweth in the Mount Occynius. 1668Wilkins Real Char. 108 Spindle Tree. Not purgative; having slender flexile twigs. 1734Phil. Trans. XXXVIII. 234 On the Twigs it is more even and greener, resembling that of the Evonymus, or Spindle-Tree. 1769Ibid. LIX. 38, I have likewise my suspicions with regard to the Privet and Spindle tree. 1841Penny Cycl. XXI. 184/1 It is also well seen in the Euonymus, or common spindle-tree, where it forms a beautiful orange-coloured mantle around the seed. 1872Oliver Elem. Bot. ii. 159 Charcoal is prepared from the wood of the Spindle-tree, for the use of artists. 1884Longman's Mag. June 191 Willows, laurels, figs, and spindle-trees grew side by side.
attrib.1857Henfrey Bot. 271 Celastraceæ. The Spindle-tree Order. 1866Treas. Bot. 233/2 Cassine, a genus of South African plants belonging to the Spindle-tree family, Celastraceæ. 1868Watts Dict. Chem. s.v., Spindle-tree oil is prepared chiefly in Switzerland.
b. Applied, with distinguishing epithets, to other species of Euonymus, or to plants of different genera (see quots.).
1713Phil. Trans. XXVIII. 64 Virginia Spindle-tree with rough Fruit. 1731Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Euonymus, Ever-green African Spindle-Tree. Ibid., Ever-green Ethiopian Spindle-Tree. 1760J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 328 Spindle-tree, Bastard, Celastrus. Ibid., Spindle-tree, Bastard, Kiggellaria. Ibid., Spindle-tree, Climbing, Celastrus. 1771J. R. Forster Flora Amer. Septentr. 11 Evonymus Americanus. Spindle tree, American. 1829T. Castle Introd. Bot. 52 Studded over with small warts,..as in warty spindle-tree.
2. pl. The natural order Celastraceæ, to which the genus Euonymus belongs.
1846Lindley Veget. Kingd. 586 Celastraceæ, Spindle-trees. Ibid. 587 The radicle of Spindle-trees is inferior. 1866Treas. Bot. 243/2 The Spindle-trees have a beautiful scarlet aril. |