caprification

American  

[kap-ruh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌkæp rə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

Horticulture.

1. a method of artificial pollination of fig trees by wasps that prick the buds on branches of the caprifig that have been hung in trees of the edible fig.

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caprification British  

/ ˌkæprɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. a method of pollinating the edible fig by hanging branches of caprifig flowers in edible fig trees. Parasitic wasps in the caprifig flowers transfer pollen to the edible fig flowers

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Etymology

Origin of caprification

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin caprifīcātiōn-, stem of caprifīcātiō, derivative of caprifīcāre “to fertilize by caprification” (equivalent to capr-, stem of caper “goat” + -i- + fīc-, stem of fīcus “wild fig” + -āre infinitive suffix); see origin at caprifig ( def. )

Example Sentences

In some parts of Sicily, sprigs of mint, mentha pulegium, are used instead of branches of the wild for caprification.

From The Earth as Modified by Human Action by Marsh, George P.

He does what has been done since Aristotle, Theophrastus and Pliny, all of whom insist on "caprification" as essential to a large crop of figs adapted to drying.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science October, 1877. Vol XX - No. 118 by Various

Thirty or forty years ago I read all that I could find about caprification, and was utterly puzzled.

From More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 by Darwin, Francis, Sir

Some varieties of figs do not need caprification, but they are said to be unsuitable for drying or shipment.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science October, 1877. Vol XX - No. 118 by Various

I cannot learn that caprification is now practised in Italy, but it is still in use in Greece.

From Man and Nature or, Physical Geography as Modified by Human Action by Marsh, George P.