Word: maple Part of Speech: noun Etymology: The noun is derived from Middle English mapel (“a European maple, especially the common maple (Acer campestre); wood of such a tree; artistic representation of a maple leaf; a beam, pole, stake (?)”), from Old English *mapul (attested in mapulder (“maple tree”), mapultrēow (“maple tree”), etc.), from Proto-West Germanic *mapul (“maple tree”), from Proto-Germanic *mapulaz; further etymology uncertain, possibly from *masuraz (“type of wood with spots or veins, such as maple or walnut”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mos- (“skin sore”)) + *aplaz (“apple; fruit”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ébōl (“apple; apple tree”)). The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun. cognates * Dutch meppel (dialectal) * Old English mæsen (“maple”) * Middle Low German mapeldorn * Old High German mazaltra, mazzaltra (modern German Masseller, Maßholder; Mase (“scar”), Maser (“knob; offshoot; measle, speck”)) * Old Norse mǫpurr, mǫsurr (“maple”) * Old Saxon mapulder Pronunciation: /ˈmeɪpl̩/, [ˈmeɪp(ə)ɫ̩], /ˈmeɪp(ə)l/, /ˈmæɪpəl/, [ˈmæɪp(ə)ɫ̩] 1. A small tree, Acer campestre, known as the common maple, field maple, or hedge maple, which has palmate leaves with five lobes and winged seeds, and is chiefly native to East Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. Labels: countable Example: The vvarlike Beech, the Aſh for nothing ill, / The fruitfull Oliue, and the Plataine round, / The caruer Holme, the Maple ſeeldom invvard ſound. Example: The great Maple is a beautifull and high tree, vvith a barke of a meane ſmoothnes: the ſubſtance of the vvoode is tender and eaſie to vvorke on it; it ſendeth foorth on euery ſide very many goodly boughes and branches, vvhich make an excellent ſhadovv againſt the heate of the ſunne; […] There is a ſmall Maple vvhich doth oftentimes come to the bignes of a tree, but moſt commonly it grovveth lovv after the maner of a ſhrub, the barke heereof is likevviſe ſmooth; […] 2. A small tree, Acer campestre, known as the common maple, field maple, or hedge maple, which has palmate leaves with five lobes and winged seeds, and is chiefly native to East Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. Labels: countable Example: Russian maple Example: They have a large maple in their yard. 3. A small tree, Acer campestre, known as the common maple, field maple, or hedge maple, which has palmate leaves with five lobes and winged seeds, and is chiefly native to East Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. Labels: countable Example: Queensland maple 4. A small tree, Acer campestre, known as the common maple, field maple, or hedge maple, which has palmate leaves with five lobes and winged seeds, and is chiefly native to East Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. Labels: uncountable Example: This table is made of maple and also has some fruitwood inlays. Example: Eager and never weary we pursued / Our home-amusements by the warm peat-fire / […] / We schemed and puzzled, head opposed to head / In strife too humble to be named in verse: / Or round the naked table, snow-white deal, / Cherry or maple, sate in close array, […] 5. A small tree, Acer campestre, known as the common maple, field maple, or hedge maple, which has palmate leaves with five lobes and winged seeds, and is chiefly native to East Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. Labels: uncountable 6. The flavour of maple syrup made from the sap of a maple tree, or an imitation of that flavour. Labels: uncountable Example: What flavour is your ice-cream? Mine’s maple—it’s delicious. 7. Short for maple pea (“the field pea (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense) which has brown, speckled seeds used dry rather than fresh; a seed of this plant”). Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable