| 释义 |
bourtree Now only Sc. and north. dial.|ˈbʊətriː|
Forms: 5 burtre, 7 burt-tree, 9 burtree, 6– bourtre(e, 7–9 dial. boretree, bortery, 8–9 Sc. bourtree.
[Of uncertain phonetic form, and unknown origin. The plausible derivation from bore v.1 (see quot. 1691) is inconsistent with the earliest and with the dialect forms; derivation from bower, Sc. bour, boor (in sense of ‘arbour’) answers phonetically, but is unlikely with regard to meaning. Cf. bountree.]
The Elder-tree (Sambucus nigra). attrib., as in bourtree-berry, bourtree-bush; bourtree-gun, a popgun made of the wood of the Elder, after the pith has been removed.
c1450Nominale in Wr.-Wülcker 228, Hec sambucus, a burtre. 1561Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 25 b, The floures of Eldren or Bouretre. 1562Turner Herbal ii. 59 b, The wod..is very holow..lyke vnto elder or bourtre. 1579Langham Gard. Health (1633) 214 Eldren, or Bourtree. 1691Ray N.C. Wds. 131 Bore-tree, elder-tree; from the great pith in the younger branches which Children commonly bore out to make potguns of them. 1786Burns Addr. Deil vi, Rustlin, thro' the boortrees comin. 1815Scott Guy M. liii, I was behind that bourtree bush at the very moment. 1821Mrs. Wheeler Westmorld. Dial. 73 Bortery-berry wine. 1878Smiles Rt. Dick iv. 29 The only tree that thrives..is the common bourtree or elder. |