Obs. (Also 7 surcul, 9 surcule.) [ad. L. surculus. Cf. F. surcule.] A small or young shoot of a plant; a sprout, sprig, twig; also, a small branch of a nerve, blood-vessel, etc.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, V. 71. The left Nerue … enwrappeth the nether Orifice of the ventricle with some surcles.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. vi. 98. Misseltoe … sprouteth not forth in boughs and surcles or the same shape and similary unto the tree that beareth it. Ibid., IV. iii. 183. The Azygos, or vena sine pari, whose surcles are disposed unto the other lower.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 673. They sometimes cut off its tender surcles [printed succles].
[1681. trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Vocab., Surculs, little … shoots.
1860. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Surculus … a twig: a surcule.]
