The noun is derived from Middle English mapel (“tree of species Acer campestre, sole native maple of the British Isles); 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
Meanings
(not-comparable) Of the light-brown colour of the wood of a maple tree (etymology 1, noun sense 3).
(not-comparable) Of the flavour of, or made with, maple syrup.
Translations (2)
fi vaahterasiirappinen (of the flavour of, or made with, maple syrup) · fi vaahteranruskea (of the light-brown colour of the wood of a maple tree)
The noun is derived from Middle English mapel (“tree of species Acer campestre, sole native maple of the British Isles); 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
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) Any member of any species of genus Acer, characterized by (usually) palmate, five-lobed leaves and winged seeds, and often grown for syrup or wood
They have a large maple in their yard.
Russian maple
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:
(UK, countable) Any member of any species of genus Acer, characterized by (usually) palmate, five-lobed leaves and winged seeds, and often grown for syrup or wood ▸ 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:
(countable) Any member of any species of genus Acer, characterized by (usually) palmate, five-lobed leaves and winged seeds, and often grown for syrup or wood ▸ Often preceded by a descriptive word: a tree of the genus Acer; especially the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) native to North America which has brightly colored autumn foliage and is the primary source of maple syrup.
(countable) 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
(uncountable) 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:
(uncountable) The light-brown color of the wood of a maple tree (etymology 1, noun sense 3).
(uncountable) The flavor of maple syrup made from the sap of a maple tree, or an imitation of that flavor.
What flavour is your ice-cream? Mine’s maple—it’s delicious.
(abbreviation, alt-of, countable) 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”).
et vaher (tree of the genus Acer genus) · gld гинэлэ̄н (tree of the genus Acer genus) · fr érable (tree of the genus Acer genus) · frr ahornboom (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ca auró (tree of the genus Acer genus) · da løn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · sw mshira (tree of the genus Acer genus) · cmn 槭樹 /槭树 (tree of the genus Acer genus) · stq alhouden (tree of the genus Acer genus) · es arce (tree of the genus Acer genus) · sl javor (tree of the genus Acer genus) · sh javor (tree of the genus Acer genus) · lt klevas (tree of the genus Acer genus) · cy masarn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · dlm vaple (tree of the genus Acer genus) · grc σφένδαμνος (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ckb کەوێت (tree of the genus Acer genus) · sva ბიკენჩხალ (tree of the genus Acer genus) · pt ácer (tree of the genus Acer genus) · kum уьрге (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ude моно (tree of the genus Acer genus) · sq ulzë (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ude могдохоли (tree of the genus Acer genus) · izh vaaher (tree of the genus Acer genus) · cmn 楓樹 /枫树 (tree of the genus Acer genus) · moh wáhta (tree of the genus Acer genus) · chy me'êškema (tree of the genus Acer genus) · bnn dala' (tree of the genus Acer genus) · sq krekë (tree of the genus Acer genus) · he אדר (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ga mailp (tree of the genus Acer genus) · br skav-gwrac'h (tree of the genus Acer genus) · cv вӗрене (tree of the genus Acer genus) · evn монон (tree of the genus Acer genus) · xmf ლაკინჩხა (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ar قَيْقَب (tree of the genus Acer genus) · fi vaahtera (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ce къахк (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ms mapel (tree of the genus Acer genus) · kbd блашэ (tree of the genus Acer genus) · xdq гья́рце (tree of the genus Acer genus) · hsb klon (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ba саған (tree of the genus Acer genus) · gv maplys (tree of the genus Acer genus) · mzn افرا (tree of the genus Acer genus) · az ağcaqayın (tree of the genus Acer genus) · zza afrag (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ang hlin (tree of the genus Acer genus) · mi meipara (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ro paltin (tree of the genus Acer genus) · mzn پلت (tree of the genus Acer genus) · cr ᓭᓯᐹᐢᑲᐧᑖᐦᑎᐠ (tree of the genus Acer genus) · fi vaahtera (wood of an Acer tree; similar wood from a tree of a genus other than Acer; particular type of such wood) · non hlynr (tree of the genus Acer genus) · tt öräñge (tree of the genus Acer genus) · eo acero (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ky зараң (tree of the genus Acer genus) · gv mabbyl (tree of the genus Acer genus) · sh јавор (tree of the genus Acer genus) · mhr ваштар (tree of the genus Acer genus) · cy gwenwialen (tree of the genus Acer genus) · mdf уштор (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ab ачамҳа (tree of the genus Acer genus) · nds-de Löön (tree of the genus Acer genus) · vi phong (tree of the genus Acer genus) · gld монон (tree of the genus Acer genus) · tk kerkaw (tree of the genus Acer genus) · bg явор (tree of the genus Acer genus) · hsb jawor (tree of the genus Acer genus) · sv lönn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · fi vaahteranruskea (light-brown colour of the wood of a maple tree) · oac моно (tree of the genus Acer genus) · hu juhar (tree of the genus Acer genus) · mk јавор (tree of the genus Acer genus) · gld мокчохали (tree of the genus Acer genus) · es maple (tree of the genus Acer genus) · is hlynur (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ja かえで (tree of the genus Acer genus) · frr spasahorn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · yi נעצבוים (tree of the genus Acer genus) · gld бултухэ (tree of the genus Acer genus) · moh wáhtaʼ (tree of the genus Acer genus) · bg клен (tree of the genus Acer genus) · tl arse (tree of the genus Acer genus) · mn агч мод (tree of the genus Acer genus) · fo lynur (tree of the genus Acer genus) · fy eskdoarn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · chr ᏢᏩᎵᎦ (tree of the genus Acer genus) · kk үйеңкі (tree of the genus Acer genus) · cy masarnwydd (tree of the genus Acer genus) · dsb jawor (tree of the genus Acer genus) · enm mapel (tree of the genus Acer genus) · cs javor (tree of the genus Acer genus) · nds-de Ahorn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · dsb klon (tree of the genus Acer genus) · krc юрге (tree of the genus Acer genus) · hy թխկի (tree of the genus Acer genus) · pdt zockaboom (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ang hlyn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · mrj ваштар (tree of the genus Acer genus) · da ahorn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · la acer (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ro arțar (tree of the genus Acer genus) · udm бадяръёсты (tree of the genus Acer genus) · pox klen (tree of the genus Acer genus) · nb lønn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ltg kļovs (tree of the genus Acer genus) · nds-de Zockaboom (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ulc моно (tree of the genus Acer genus) · tt çağan (tree of the genus Acer genus) · cy gwiniolen (tree of the genus Acer genus) · th เมเปิล (tree of the genus Acer genus) · nds-de flader (tree of the genus Acer genus) · fo ahorn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ko 단풍나무 (tree of the genus Acer genus) · nds-de Löhn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · tr isfendan (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ady ланчъэ (tree of the genus Acer genus) · pl klon (tree of the genus Acer genus) · uk клен (tree of the genus Acer genus) · gl pradairo (tree of the genus Acer genus) · osx ahorn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · lv kļava (tree of the genus Acer genus) · pt zelha (tree of the genus Acer genus) · th ก่วม (tree of the genus Acer genus) · eu gaztigar (tree of the genus Acer genus) · neg ачакта (tree of the genus Acer genus) · el σφενδάμι (tree of the genus Acer genus) · vi thích (tree of the genus Acer genus) · da ær (tree of the genus Acer genus) · neg монон (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ja 楓 (tree of the genus Acer genus) · cel-gau opolos (tree of the genus Acer genus) · it loppio (tree of the genus Acer genus) · gd malpas (tree of the genus Acer genus) · fi vaahterasiirappi (flavour of maple syrup made from the sap of a maple tree, or an imitation of that flavour) · be клён (tree of the genus Acer genus) · fa افرا (tree of the genus Acer genus) · de Ahorn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · oj ᐊᓂᓈᑎᒃ aninaatig (tree of the genus Acer genus) · uz zarang (tree of the genus Acer genus) · tr akçaağaç (tree of the genus Acer genus) · rm ischi (tree of the genus Acer genus) · nn lønn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · sq panjë (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ka ნეკერჩხალი (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ru клён (tree of the genus Acer genus) · ssf lhalha (tree of the genus Acer genus) · evn ачакта (tree of the genus Acer genus) · eu astigar (tree of the genus Acer genus) · sk javor (tree of the genus Acer genus) · myv укштор (tree of the genus Acer genus) · nv sóól (tree of the genus Acer genus) · nl esdoorn (tree of the genus Acer genus) · it acero (tree of the genus Acer genus) · pt bordo (tree of the genus Acer genus) · tg заранг (tree of the genus Acer genus) · vec òpio (tree of the genus Acer genus)
A variant of mapau, influenced by maple (etymology 1).
Meanings
(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: