service-tree
[f. service n.2 + tree n.]
1. = service n.2 1.
| 1600 Surflet Country Farm iii. xl. 507 Such is the force of the ceruise tree, to raise vp, renew and reuiue a qualified and appeased madnes. 1749 Lady Luxborough Let. to Shenstone 23 Mar., The walk which is bordered by service-trees. 1857 Miller Elem. Chem., Org. (1862) 410 An acid derived from the berries of the service-tree. 1910 Blackw. Mag. Aug. 181/1 The..wood of the small service-tree. |
b. The wood of this tree used in the arts.
| 1545 R. Ascham Toxoph. ii. (Arb.) 124 Steles be made of dyuerse woodes as..seruis tree. 1703 Art's Improv. I. 33 By this Method, the Violet Wood which Dyers use, will be Stained Black as Ebony;..Pear-Tree and Service-Tree will be of Reddish Colour. |
2. wild service-tree. = service n.2 3.
| 1639 Horn & Rob. Gate Lang. Unl. xi. §122 The bay⁓tree, the maple and wild service-tree beare berries. 1796 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 458 Wild Service-tree, or Sorb. 1832 Planting 103 in Libr. Usef. Knowl., Husb. III, The wild service-tree (torminalis). 1859 W. S. Coleman Our Woodlands (1862) 55 In the Southern parts of the kingdom, we may often meet with the Wild Service Tree. |
3. † narrow-leaved service-tree, Fowler's service-tree: names for the Mountain Ash, Pyrus (Sorbus) Aucuparia.
| 1793 Statist. Acc. Scot. IX. 328 They fixed branches of mountain ash, or narrow leaved service-tree above the stakes of their cattle, to preserve them from the evil effects of elves and witches. 1859 W. S. Coleman Our Woodlands (1862) 59 The Mountain Ash is often called the Fowler's Service-tree. |
4. The N. American service-berry (service n.2 4).
| 1884 Sargent Rep. Forests N. Amer. 84 Amelanchier Canadensis... June berry. Shad bush. Service tree. |