Obs. Of uncertain origin and meaning.
Usually glossed ‘cornel-tree’ and compared with MLG. wipelbôm, which, with wiepen- and weipkenbôm, glosses L. cornus. (In the absence of a French gloss in quot. 1530, the identity of the word intended is doubtful.)
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 2065. Mapul, thorn, bech, hasel, Ew, whippeltre [v.rr. Whippul-, -il-, whipil-, wypul-].
1530. Palsgr., 288/1. Whypple tree.
