maple

Meaning

Noun

• A tree of the genus Acer, characterised by its usually palmate leaves and winged seeds.
• The wood of such a tree, prized for its hardness and attractive appearance

Origin

• From Middle English mapel, from Old English *mapul (attested in mapultrēow and mapulder), from Proto-Germanic *mapulaz (compare Old Saxon mapulder, Old High German mazaltra, mazzaltra; Old Norse mǫpurr, Middle Low German mapeldorn, dialectal Dutch meppel, German Masseller, Maßholder), perhaps a blend of *masuraz (compare Old English mæsen, Old Norse mǫsurr, German Maser ("knob, offshoot")) and *aplaz (see apple), from *masą (compare obsolete German Mase ("scar"), modern Maser. More at measles.