[f. SPINDLE sb., after G. spindelbaum (OHG. spindel-, spinelpaum, spinnilapoum), = MDu. spindelboom; cf. also G. spillbaum, Du. spilboom, MLG. spillebôm.]
1. An ornamental European shrub (Euonymus Europæus), furnishing a hard fine-grained yellowish wood formerly much used for spindles.
1548. Turner, Names Herbes (E. D. S.), 36. Euonymus … maye be called in englishe Spyndle tree or square tree.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 760. Some call it … in English Spindel tree, and Pricke timber: bycause the timber … serveth very well to the making both of Prickes and Spindelles.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 240. The prickle or spindle tree (called also Euonimus) which groweth in the Mount Occynius.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., 108. Spindle Tree. Not purgative; having slender flexile twigs.
1734. Phil. Trans., XXXVIII. 234. On the Twigs it is more even and greener, resembling that of the Evonymus, or Spindle-Tree. Ibid. (1769), LIX. 38. I have likewise my suspicions with regard to the Privet and Spindle tree.
1841. Penny Cycl., XXI. 184/1. It is also well seen in the Euomymus, or common spindle-tree, where it forms a beautiful orange-coloured mantle around the seed.
1869. Oliver, Elem. Bot., II. 159. Charcoal is prepared from the wood of the Spindle-tree, for the use of artists.
1884. G. Allen, in Longman’s Mag., June, 191. Willows, laurels, figs, and spindle-trees grew side by side with prickly Rotang palms.
attrib. 1857. Henfrey, Bot., 271. Celastraceæ. The Spindle-tree Order.
1866. Treas. Bot., 233/2. Cassine, a genus of South African plants belonging to the Spindle-tree family, Celastraceæ.
1868. Watts, Dict. Chem., s.v., Spindle-tree oil is prepared chiefly in Switzerland.
b. Applied, with distinguishing epithets, to other species of Euonymus, or to plants of different genera (see quots.).
1713. Phil. Trans., XXVIII. 64. Virginia Spindle-tree with rough Fruit.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Euonymus, Ever-green African Spindle-Tree. Ibid., Ever-green Ethiopian Spindle-Tree.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Spindle tree, Bastard, Celastrus. Ibid. Spindle tree, Bastard, Kiggellaria. Ibid. Spindle tree, Climbing, Celastrus.
1771. J. R. Forster, Flora Amer. Septentr., 11. Evonymus Americanus. Spindle tree, American.
1829. T. Castle, Introd. Bot., 52. Studded over with small warts,… as in warty spindle-tree.
2. pl. The natural order Celastraceæ, to which the genus Euonymus belongs.
1846. Lindley, Veget. Kingd., 586. Celastraceæ, Spindle-trees. Ibid., 587. The radicle of Spindle-trees is inferior.
1866. Treas. Bot., 243/2. The Spindle-trees have a beautiful scarlet aril.
