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prune
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Prune \Prune\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pruned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pruning.] [OE. proine, probably fr. F. provigner to lay down vine stocks for propagation; hence, probably, the meaning, to cut away superfluous shoots. See Provine.] 1. To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune trees; to prune an essay. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster] Taking into consideration how they [laws] are to be pruned and reformed. --Bacon. [1913 Webster] Our delightful task To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. To cut off or cut out, as useless parts. [1913 Webster] Horace will our superfluous branches prune. --Waller. [1913 Webster] 3. To preen; to prepare; to dress. --Spenser. [1913 Webster] His royal bird Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak. --Shak. [1913 Webster] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Prune \Prune\, v. i. To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Prune \Prune\, n. [F. prune, from L. prunum a plum. See Plum.] A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or Turkish prunes; California prunes. [1913 Webster] German prune (Bot.), a large dark purple plum, of oval shape, often one-sided. It is much used for preserving, either dried or in sirup. Prune tree. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus Prunus (Prunus domestica), which produces prunes. (b) The West Indian tree, Prunus occidentalis. South African prune (Bot.), the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Pappea Capensis). [1913 Webster]
