bourtree

American  

[boor-tree] / ˈbʊərˌtri /

noun

1. European elder.

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Etymology

Origin of bourtree

1400–50; late Middle English burtre, equivalent to bur (of uncertain origin) + tre tree

Example Sentences

The Common Elder, S. nigra, the bourtree of Scotland, is found in Europe, the north of Africa, Western Asia, the Caucasus, and Southern Siberia; in sheltered spots it attains a height of over 20 ft.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2 "Ehud" to "Electroscope" by Various

Fearful soughs the bourtree bank, The rifted wood roars wild and dreary, Loud the iron yate does clank, And cry of howlets makes me eerie.

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume II. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century by Rogers, Charles

What care I for howlet's cry, For bourtree bank, or warlock craigie?

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume II. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century by Rogers, Charles

In Scotland this tree is known as the bourtree, and hence the rhyme— "Bourtree, bourtree, crooked wrung, Never straight and never strong; Ever bush and never tree, Since our Lord was nailed to thee."

From The South Isles of Aran by Burke, Oliver J.

At the byre end the old rowan-trees were creaking and groaning to the violence of the gale, the bourtree bushes were flattened near to the ground, and everywhere was white.

From The McBrides A Romance of Arran by Sillars, John