prune1
- a variety of plum that dries without spoiling.
- such a plum when dried.
- any plum.
Origin of prune1
prune2
- to cut or lop off (twigs, branches, or roots).
- to cut or lop superfluous or undesired twigs, branches, or roots from; trim.
- to rid or clear of (anything superfluous or undesirable).
- to remove (anything considered superfluous or undesirable).
Origin of prune2
prune3
- Archaic. to preen.
Origin of prune3
Examples from the Web for prune
Contemporary Examples
This was the case with Prune Nourry, a young French sculptress who went to India to create a piece of art interpreting women.
We made the prune based Chocolate Fudge Torte at the bakery and it left everyone slack-jawed.
Historical Examples
I might fertilize him, I might prune him, and I might use insecticide on him.
Her Father's DaughterGene Stratton-Porter
The one great work that a vinedresser has to do for the branch every year is to prune it.
The Ministry of IntercessionAndrew Murray
Then, how I would toil, toil, prune and expand his feeble ideas!
MelomaniacsJames Huneker
He meant at least to prune the orchard and maybe set out dwarfs.
The PrisonerAlice Brown
Nourish your idea plants that have been starved; prune your word plants.
Evening Round UpWilliam Crosbie Hunter
prune1
- a purplish-black partially dried fruit of any of several varieties of plum tree
- slang, mainly British a dull, uninteresting, or foolish person
Word Origin
prune2
- to remove (dead or superfluous twigs, branches, etc) from (a tree, shrub, etc), esp by cutting off
- to remove (anything undesirable or superfluous) from (a book, etc)
Word Origin
prune3
- an archaic word for preen 1
Word Origin and History for prune
n.
mid-14c., "a plum," also "a dried plum" (c.1200 in place name Prunhill), from Old French pronne "plum" (13c.), from Vulgar Latin *pruna, fem. singular formed from Latin pruna, neuter plural of prunum "a plum," by dissimilation from Greek proumnon, from a language of Asia Minor. Slang meaning "disagreeable or disliked person" is from 1895. Prune juice is from 1807.
v.
early 15c., prouyne, from Old French proignier "cut back (vines), prune" (Modern French provigner), of unknown origin. Perhaps [Watkins] from Gallo-Romance *pro-retundiare "cut in a rounded shape in front," from pro- "forth" (see pro-) + *retundiare "round off," from Latin rotundus (see round (adj.)). Klein suggests the Old French word is from provain "layer of a vine," from Latin propago (cf. prop (n.1)).
Or the Middle English word might be identical with the falconry term proinen, proynen "trim the feather with the beak" (late 14c.), source of preen [Barnhart]. Related: Pruned; pruning. Pruning hook is from 1610s; pruning knife from 1580s.
Idioms and Phrases with prune
prune
see full of beans, def. 2.