espalier
/ɪˈspæl.jɚ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.48 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
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.
Example Sentences
- "The garment stalls carried the traditional blue vine-dressers' outfits, sunhats, and the great willow pitchforks grown in espalier at villages like Sauve."
- "It is on this rocky surface that one finds many of the growth forms associated with extreme life conditions: polsters, mat plants, espaliers."
- "Often some night-animal, hedgehog or weasel, setting out on the hunt, disturbed the lovers, or sometimes they heard a ripe peach falling all alone from the espalier."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
- Root: espalier, spalliera
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɪˈspæl.jɚ/
- British English: /ɪˈspalɪə/