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.
| 1548 Turner Names Herbes (E.D.S.) 36 Euonymus..maye be called in englishe Spyndle tree or square tree. 1578 Lyte 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. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 240 The prickle or spindle tree (called also Euonimus) which groweth in the Mount Occynius. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. 108 Spindle Tree. Not purgative; having slender flexile twigs. 1734 Phil. Trans. XXXVIII. 234 On the Twigs it is more even and greener, resembling that of the Evonymus, or Spindle-Tree. 1769 Ibid. LIX. 38, I have likewise my suspicions with regard to the Privet and Spindle tree. 1841 Penny 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. 1872 Oliver Elem. Bot. ii. 159 Charcoal is prepared from the wood of the Spindle-tree, for the use of artists. 1884 Longman's Mag. June 191 Willows, laurels, figs, and spindle-trees grew side by side. |
| attrib. 1857 Henfrey Bot. 271 Celastraceæ. The Spindle-tree Order. 1866 Treas. Bot. 233/2 Cassine, a genus of South African plants belonging to the Spindle-tree family, Celastraceæ. 1868 Watts 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.).
| 1713 Phil. Trans. XXVIII. 64 Virginia Spindle-tree with rough Fruit. 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Euonymus, Ever-green African Spindle-Tree. Ibid., Ever-green Ethiopian Spindle-Tree. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 328 Spindle-tree, Bastard, Celastrus. Ibid., Spindle-tree, Bastard, Kiggellaria. Ibid., Spindle-tree, Climbing, Celastrus. 1771 J. R. Forster Flora Amer. Septentr. 11 Evonymus Americanus. Spindle tree, American. 1829 T. 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.
| 1846 Lindley Veget. Kingd. 586 Celastraceæ, Spindle-trees. Ibid. 587 The radicle of Spindle-trees is inferior. 1866 Treas. Bot. 243/2 The Spindle-trees have a beautiful scarlet aril. |