common spindle tree

9.9

A small bush with hard white wood and bright fruit used in traditional medicine

noun

: espino común

The bark and fruit of the common spindle tree have traditional medicinal uses, though they should be used with caution.

Examples

The common spindle tree is often found growing along the edges of woodlands across Europe.
Baskets and spindles were once crafted from the tough wood of the common spindle tree.
The common spindle tree is native to Europe.
Many gardeners appreciate the common spindle tree for its beauty.
The bark and fruit of the common spindle tree have traditional medicinal uses, though they should be used with caution.
The common spindle tree is often found growing along the edges of woodlands across Europe.
Baskets and spindles were once crafted from the tough wood of the common spindle tree.

Synonyms

Euonymus europaeus

vscommon spindle tree

Specialized

9.9

A small European bush with bright pink berries often grown in gardens

is the everyday name used instead of the formal scientific label

spindle tree

vscommon spindle tree

9.1

A small tree with bright pink and orange berries often grown in gardens or woods

is the particular species with tough wood and cathartic fruit

spindleberry tree

vscommon spindle tree

9.9

A small tree or climbing plant with bright red berries

is an upright shrub rather than a climbing woody vine

Surface Forms

common spindle tree singular

common spindle trees plural

Morphology

common + spindle + tree

The compound 'spindle tree' is compositionally transparent: a B1 learner who knows 'spindle' (a wooden implement) and 'tree' can infer it denotes a type of tree associated with spindles (e.g., used for or resembling spindles), and 'common' simply marks it as widespread. While the precise botanical details (a small deciduous shrub, cathartic fruit) require domain knowledge, the basic idea that this is a particular kind of tree/shrub is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Common spindle tree gets its name from the hard, fine wood people once used to make small tools called spindles for spinning thread. So the name points to the tree's wood and its old use.