Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Yew?

\Yew\ ([=u]), v. i. See {Yaw}.
\Yew\, n. [OE. ew, AS. e['o]w, [=i]w, eoh; akin to D. ijf, OHG. [=i]wa, [=i]ha, G. eibe, Icel. [=y]r; cf. Ir. iubhar, Gael. iubhar, iughar, W. yw, ywen, Lith. j["e]va the black alder tree.] 1. (Bot.) An evergreen tree ({Taxus baccata}) of Europe, allied to the pines, but having a peculiar berrylike fruit instead of a cone. It frequently grows in British churchyards. 2. The wood of the yew. It is light red in color, compact, fine-grained, and very elastic. It is preferred to all other kinds of wood for bows and whipstocks, the best for these purposes coming from Spain. Note: The {American yew} ({Taxus baccata}, var. {Canadensis}) is a low and straggling or prostrate bush, never forming an erect trunk. The {California yew} ({Taxus brevifolia}) is a good-sized tree, and its wood is used for bows, spear handles, paddles, and other similar implements. Another yew is found in Florida, and there are species in Japan and the Himalayas. 3. A bow for shooting, made of the yew.
\Yew\ ([=u]), a. Of or pertaining to yew trees; made of the wood of a yew tree; as, a yew whipstock.