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wych elm

[wich]
noun
  1. an elm, Ulmus glabra, of northern and western Europe, having large, coarse leaves.
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Origin of wych elm

1620–30; wych wych elm, Middle English wyche, Old English wice
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for wych-elm

Historical Examples

  • "No, better'n nothing," said Miss Avery, and turned to the wych-elm.

    Howards End

    E. M. Forster

  • But under that wych-elm—honestly, I see little happiness ahead.

    Howards End

    E. M. Forster

  • The purse, recognized as Sir Philip's, by the valet of the deceased, was found buried under the wych-elm.

    A Strange Story, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • It feeds when young in sallow catkins, and later on low-growing plants, also leaves of sallow and seeds of wych-elm.

  • It feeds on the seeds of wych-elm, and may be beaten or jarred from the branches in April and May.

British Dictionary definitions for wych-elm

wych-elm

witch-elm

noun
  1. Eurasian elm tree, Ulmus glabra, having a rounded shape, longish pointed leaves, clusters of small flowers, and winged fruits
  2. the wood of this tree
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Word Origin

C17: from Old English wice wych-elm
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012