The noun is derived from Middle English mapel (“a European maple, especially the common maple (Acer campestre); wood of such a tree; artistic representation of a maple leaf; a beam, pole, stake (?)”), from Old English *mapul (attested in mapulder (“maple tree”), mapultrēow (“maple tree”), etc.), from Proto-West Germanic *mapul (“maple tree”), from Proto-Germanic *mapulaz; further etymology uncertain, possibly from *masuraz (“type of wood with spots or veins, such as maple or walnut”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mos- (“skin sore”)) + *aplaz (“apple; fruit”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ébōl (“apple; apple tree”)). The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun. cognates * Dutch meppel (dialectal) * Old English mæsen (“maple”) * Middle Low German mapeldorn * Old High German mazaltra, mazzaltra (modern German Masseller, Maßholder; Mase (“scar”), Maser (“knob; offshoot; measle, speck”)) * Old Norse mǫpurr, mǫsurr (“maple”) * Old Saxon mapulder
A small tree, Acer campestre, known as the common maple, field maple, or hedge maple, which has palmate leaves with five lobes and winged seeds, and is chiefly native to East Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America.
The vvarlike Beech, the Aſh for nothing ill, / The fruitfull Oliue, and the Plataine round, / The caruer Holme, the Maple ſeeldom invvard ſound.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 9, page 5:
The great Maple is a beautifull and high tree, vvith a barke of a meane ſmoothnes: the ſubſtance of the vvoode is tender and eaſie to vvorke on it; it ſendeth foorth on euery ſide very many goodly boughes and branches, vvhich make an excellent ſhadovv againſt the heate of the ſunne; […] There is a ſmall Maple vvhich doth oftentimes come to the bignes of a tree, but moſt commonly it grovveth lovv after the maner of a ſhrub, the barke heereof is likevviſe ſmooth; […]1597, John Gerarde [i.e., John Gerard], “Of the Maple Tree”, in The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes. […], London: […] Edm[und] Bollifant, for Bonham and Iohn Norton, →OCLC, book III, page 1299:
2
Often preceded by a descriptive word: a tree of the genus Acer, characterized by (usually) palmate leaves and winged seeds, and often grown for syrup or wood; especially the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) native to North America which has brightly coloured autumn foliage and is the primary source of maple syrup.
Russian maple
They have a large maple in their yard.
2 more examples
The Maple [Acer] (of vvhich Authors reckon very many kinds) vvas of old held in equal eſtimation almoſt vvith the Citron; eſpecially the Bruſcum, the French-Maple, and the Peacocks-tail-Maple, vvhich is that ſort ſo elegantly undulated, and criſped into variety of curles: They are all produced of Keys, like the Aſh; […]1664, J[ohn] E[velyn], “Of the Maple”, in Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesties Dominions. […], London: […] Jo[hn] Martyn, and Ja[mes] Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC, page 28:
In days of yore, from Britain's shore, / [John] Wolfe the dauntless hero came, / And planted firm Britannia's flag, / On Canada's fair domain. / Here may it wave, our boast, or pride, / And joined in love together, / The Thistle, Shamrock, Rose entwine / The Maple Leaf for ever! // [Chorus] The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear, / The Maple Leaf for ever! / God save our Queen, and Heaven bless / The Maple Leaf for ever!1867 (date written), Alexander Muir, “The Maple Leaf for Ever. […]”, special edition, Toronto, Ont.: The Nordheimer Piano & Music Co., published 1871, →OCLC, pages 1–2:
3
Chiefly preceded by a descriptive word: a tree of a genus other than Acer which has an appearance or wood similar to an Acer tree.
Queensland maple
4
Wood of an Acer tree, valued for its attractive appearance and hardness; also, similar wood from a tree of a genus other than Acer; (countable) a particular type of such wood.
This table is made of maple and also has some fruitwood inlays.
Eager and never weary we pursued / Our home-amusements by the warm peat-fire / […] / We schemed and puzzled, head opposed to head / In strife too humble to be named in verse: / Or round the naked table, snow-white deal, / Cherry or maple, sate in close array, […]1799–1805 (date written), William Wordsworth, “Book I. Introduction.—Childhood and School-time.”, in The Prelude, or Growth of a Poet’s Mind; an Autobiographical Poem, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 24:
› A small tree, Acer campestre, known as the… › Wood of an Acer tree, valued for its…
5
The light-brown colour of the wood of a maple tree (etymology 1, noun sense 1.3).
6
The flavour of maple syrup made from the sap of a maple tree, or an imitation of that flavour.
What flavour is your ice-cream? Mine’s maple—it’s delicious.
7
Abbreviation Short for maple pea (“the field pea (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense) which has brown, speckled seeds used dry rather than fresh; a seed of this plant”).
The noun is derived from Middle English mapel (“a European maple, especially the common maple (Acer campestre); wood of such a tree; artistic representation of a maple leaf; a beam, pole, stake (?)”), from Old English *mapul (attested in mapulder (“maple tree”), mapultrēow (“maple tree”), etc.), from Proto-West Germanic *mapul (“maple tree”), from Proto-Germanic *mapulaz; further etymology uncertain, possibly from *masuraz (“type of wood with spots or veins, such as maple or walnut”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mos- (“skin sore”)) + *aplaz (“apple; fruit”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ébōl (“apple; apple tree”)). The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun. cognates * Dutch meppel (dialectal) * Old English mæsen (“maple”) * Middle Low German mapeldorn * Old High German mazaltra, mazzaltra (modern German Masseller, Maßholder; Mase (“scar”), Maser (“knob; offshoot; measle, speck”)) * Old Norse mǫpurr, mǫsurr (“maple”) * Old Saxon mapulder
1
Of the light-brown colour of the wood of a maple tree (etymology 1, noun sense 1.3).
2
Of the flavour of, or made with, maple syrup.
maple
noun
AU /ˈmæɪpəl/ · NZ /ˈmæepl̩/
Etymology A variant of mapau, influenced by maple (etymology 1).
1
New Zealand, Archaic Synonym of mapau (“any of several trees of New Zealand, especially in the genus Myrsine”).
The maples – red, white and black – were there, and ribbonwood or lace bark; while rata, or 'Ironwood', so called because of its hardness, made a splash of crimson in summertime.1967, Robert McLatchie, Kathleen Keene, Tang of the Bush: The Story of Robert McLatchie, 1875–1963, as Told to His Daughter, Kathleen Keene […], 2nd edition, Invercargill, New Zealand: […] Copy Services, →OCLC, page 34: