Walnut-tree

1.  The tree that bears walnuts.

a. 1400.  Nominale (Skeat), 657. Tremuler nuger et grosiler, Aspe walnotetre and theuthorne.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 407/1. Walnott tree, auellanus.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Dec., 34. How haue I wearied with many a stroke, The stately Walnut tree, the while the rest Vnder the tree fell all for nuts at strife.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. xiv. 392. The Wild Nutmeg-tree is as big as a Walnut-tree; but it does not spread so much.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), I. 282. Under it is found a soft oozy earth, made up of vegetables; and at twenty-six feet depth, large trees entire, such as walnut-trees.

1890.  Hardwicke’s Sci.-Gossip, XXVI. 115. At the last meeting of the Entomological Society, Mr. W. L. Distant exhibited … a branch of a walnut-tree on which was a mass of eggs laid by a butterfly belonging to the Lycænidæ.

  Proverb.  1550.  Coverdale, Spir. Perle, xii. 102. A walnut tree y^e more it is beaten, the better it is, & not the worsse. Euen so man thorow many stripes and much aduersity turneth from il and waxeth good.

  b.  attrib.

1536.  MS. Rawl. D. 780, lf. 66. xxiiij^ti loodes of walnottry and hasshen tymbre. Ibid., lf. 69 b. Wallnottry Tymbre haysshen tymbre and ellym tymbre.

1705.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4097/4. 10 Dozen of Walnut-Tree Planks.

1738.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Ulcer, This is no more than a decoction of walnut-tree-leaves in water, with a little sugar.

1800.  Asiatic Ann. Reg., 74, note. The Salmoni, or Salemoeli tree,… affords a most beautiful wood; it resembles walnut-tree wood in colour.

1886.  C. E. Pascoe, London of To-day (ed. 3), 16. The pleasant walnut-tree walks … of his [Addison’s] time.

  † 2.  The wood of this tree. = WALNUT¹ 3. Obs.

1587.  B. N. C. (Oxf.) Docum., Inventory A² 31. A bedsteed of wallnuttrye, in Ladies’ chamber.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., I. 162. The seates of the Chauncell are of Walnut-tree curiously carved.

1756.  Mrs. P. L. Powys, Passages fr. Diaries (1899), 8. The chimney-pieces, tables, &c., are of green marble from Sweden; all the doors solid walnut-tree, off the estate.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xl. A grey doublet and cloak … which Mrs. Wilson produced from a chest of walnut-tree.

  † b.  attrib. or adj. Made of walnut.

1687.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2231/4. A drawing Walnut-Tree Box, with two Drawers in it,… to put Mathematical Instruments in. Ibid. (1702), No. 3806/8. A Large Parcel of French Walnutt-Tree Venears will be exposed to Sale … on Thursday. Ibid. (1716), No. 5402/4. A Fowling-Piece with a Walnut-tree Stock.

1725.  Bradley’s Family Dict., s.v. Candle, Roll them upon a Wallnut-tree Table.

a. 1841.  T. Hook, Ned Musgrave, i. Sitting in a walnut-tree arm-chair.

1907.  Verney Mem., I. 11. Chairs with walnut-tree frames.