▪ I. † ˈwhippletree1 Obs.
Of uncertain origin and meaning.
Usually glossed ‘cornel-tree’ and compared with MLG. wipelbôm, which, with wiepen- and weipkenbôm, glosses L. cornus. (In the absence of a French gloss in quot. 1530, the identity of the word intended is doubtful.)
| c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 2065 Mapul, thorn, bech, hasel, Ew, whippeltre [v.rr. Whippul-, -il-, whipil-, wypul-]. 1530 Palsgr. 288/1 Whypple tree. |
▪ II. whippletree2
(ˈhwɪp(ə)ltriː)
[The first element is app. f. whip; cf. whippin.]
= swingletree 2.
| 1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farm. 319 Two Whipple⁓trees of two Foot sixteen Inches each, that the Horses draw by. 1790 Trans. Soc. Arts VIII. 244 A Spring and Index fixed to a Whipple-tree for ascertaining the force exerted in the Draught of Carriages. 1834 Brit. Husb. I. 165 These carts are capable of being drawn either by two horses abreast, or by the same number at length; for which purpose there are suitable staples fixed for hanging the whipple⁓tree upon. 1891 Malden Tillage 110 Iron Whippletrees for Two Horses Abreast. |