espalier

English

WOTD – 19 April 2008    

Espaliered fruit tree.

Etymology

From French espalier, from Italian spalliera, from spalla (“shoulder”).

Wikipedia

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ɪˈspalɪə/, /ɛsˈpæl.ɪ.eɪ/
• (US) IPA: /ɪˈspæl.jɚ/, /ɪˈspæl.jeɪ/

• Audio (US)

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  ,

  Audio (US)

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Noun

espalier (plural espaliers)

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.
   • 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber 1992, p. 223:

     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 plant that has been shaped in this manner.

Verb

espalier (third-person singular simple present espaliers, present participle espaliering, simple past and past participle espaliered)

1. To train a plant in this manner.

See also

• arborsculpture
• bonsai
• topiary

Anagrams

• pearlies

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French

Etymology

From Italian spalliera.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /espalje/

Noun

espalier m (plural espaliers)

1. (agriculture) espalier
2. (sports) wall bars

Anagrams

• épileras
• pèlerais

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Norwegian

Etymology

From French espalier, from Italian spalliera, from spalla (“shoulder”).

Noun

espalier

1. (agriculture) espalier
2. A formation of people lined up in two columns facing each other (to secure a passageway).

• Danne espalier

Inflection

    Inflection of espalier

	indefinite singular	definite singular	indefinite plural	definite plural
Bokmål n	espalier	espaliert	espalier/espalierr	a/espalierne
Nynorsk n	espalier	espalieret	espalier	espaliera [espalieri]

References

• “espalier” in The Bokmål Dictionary / The Nynorsk Dictionary – Dokumentasjonsprosjektet.
• “espalier” in The Ordnett Dictionary