[Short for wayfaring man’s tree (see above); cf. traveller’s joy.]
1. The tall shrub Viburnum Lantana, with broad leaves downy underneath, white flowers in dense cymes, and green berries turning first red then black. It grows wild in hedges and underwood.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, III. cxv. 1305. Of the Wayfaring tree.
1670. Evelyn, Sylva, xxi. § 19 (ed. 2), 101. The Viburnum, or Way-faring tree,… makes the most plyant and best bands to Fagot with.
1671–96. Phillips, Weafering-tree.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., Viburuum; The Wayfaring or Pliant Mealy Tree.
1785. Martyn, Lett. Bot., xvii. (1794), 239.
1830. Howitt, Bk. Seasons (1837), 117. Wayfaring tree! what ancient claim Hast thou to that right pleasant name?
1859. W. S. Coleman, Woodlands (1866), 121. The Wayfaring Tree, belonging to the same genus as the Guelder Rose, bears a considerable resemblance to that shrub, both in its flowers and berries; but in the leaves differs entirely.
2. U.S. The hobble-bush (V. lantanoides).
1814. Pursh, Flora Amer. Septentr., 711.
1856. A. Gray, Man. Bot. U.S. (1860), 168.
