Dictionary

woodbine en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English wodebynd, wodebynde, from Old English wudubind, wudubinde (“woodbine”), equivalent to wood + bine.

Meanings

1. Any of several climbing vines, especially the honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and the creepers of genus Parthenocissus.
   • Bob gave the man fair warning. Told him if he ever prowled around his home again he'd better come a–fogging; the man took a chance and now he's where the woodbine twineth and the whangdoodle mourneth for its mate. 1920, Peter B. Kyne, chapter II, in The Understanding Heart:
   • URSULA. The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish Cut with her golden oars the silver stream, And greedily devour the treacherous bait: So angle we for Beatrice; who even now Is couched in the woodbine coverture. 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
2. Any of several climbing vines, especially the honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and the creepers of genus Parthenocissus. ▸ in genus Lonicera: ▸ European honeysuckle or common honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum).
3. Any of several climbing vines, especially the honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and the creepers of genus Parthenocissus. ▸ in genus Lonicera: ▸ European fly honeysuckle, dwarf honeysuckle, or fly woodbine (Lonicera xylosteum).
4. Any of several climbing vines, especially the honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and the creepers of genus Parthenocissus. ▸ in genus Parthenocissus: ▸ Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia.
5. Any of several climbing vines, especially the honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and the creepers of genus Parthenocissus. ▸ in genus Parthenocissus: ▸ Japanese creeper or Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata).
6. Any of several climbing vines, especially the honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and the creepers of genus Parthenocissus. ▸ in genus Parthenocissus: ▸ Thicket creeper, false Virginia creeper, of grape woodbine (Parthenocissus inserta, syn. Parthenocissus vitacea).
7. Any of several climbing vines, especially the honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and the creepers of genus Parthenocissus. ▸ Devil's darning needle (Clematis virginiana).
8. Any of several climbing vines, especially the honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and the creepers of genus Parthenocissus. ▸ Yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens).

Forms

Deriveds

American woodbine · Italian woodbine · Dutch woodbine · small woodbine · Italian woodbine · Carolina wild woodbine · wild woodbine