Herb. Obs. [probably f. BEND sb.1 + WITH: perh. another form of BINDWITH. The word in Promp. Parv., suggests the Sw. benved ‘bone-wood,’ expl. as ‘dogberry, wild cornel,’ and Icel. beinvíðir a willow (Salix arbuscula Vigf.), the meaning of which is ‘bone-withy.’] The name of a shrub of which the twigs are used to tie up fagots, etc. Identified by Bradley with the Way-faring Tree or Wild Guelder Rose.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 31. Benwyttre [1499 benewith tre].
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., Bendwith, in Latin, Viburnum … they make use of its Branches to tie Faggots with.
1783. Ainsworth, Lat. Dict. (Morell), I. Bendwith, viburnum.
