tree

tree
\ \ [OE] Tree is part of an ancient and widespread family of ‘tree’-words that goes back ultimately to Indo-European *deru, *doru-.
\ \ This appears originally to have designated specifically the ‘oak’, rather than ‘tree’ in general, an application retained by some of its descendants: Greek drūs, for instance (source of English dryad [14]), and Welsh derwen (a possible relative of English druid). From it came Germanic *trewam, which has evolved into Swedish träd, Danish træ, and English tree.
\ \ Other English words from the same source include tray [OE] (etymologically a ‘wooden’ vessel), trough, and possibly tar.
\ \ Cf.DRUID, DRYAD, TAR, TRAY, TROUGH

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Tree — /tree/, n. Sir Herbert Beerbohm /bear bohm/, (Herbert Beerbohm), 1853 1917, English actor and theater manager; brother of Max Beerbohm. * * * I Woody perennial plant. Most trees have a single self supporting trunk containing woody tissues, and in …   Universalium

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