whitten

noun

whit·​ten

ˈ(h)witᵊn

variants or whitten tree

plural -s

dialectal, England

: any of several trees or shrubs: such as

a

: guelder-rose

b

: wayfaring tree

c

: rowan tree

Word History

Etymology

from (assumed) Middle English whitten tree, from Old English hwītingtrēow, from hwīt white + -ing + trēow tree

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

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