caprification

[ kap-ruh-fi-key-shuhn ]

nounHorticulture.
  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.

Origin of caprification

1
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

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British Dictionary definitions for caprification

caprification

/ (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

Origin of caprification

1
C17: from Latin caprifīcātiō, from caprifīcāre to pollinate figs by this method, from caprifīcus caprifig

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