Also 7 espaliere. [a. F. espalier, ad. It. spalliera ‘wainscot work to lean the shoulders against’ (Florio), hence, stakes of the same height, f. spalla shoulder. Cf. Sp. espalera, espaldera, of same meaning.]
1. A kind of lattice-work or frame-work of stakes upon which fruit-trees or ornamental shrubs are trained; also the stakes individually.
1741. Compl. Fam. Piece, II. iii. 356. Repair your Espaliers, and fasten your Fruit-trees thereto.
1754. Dodsley, Agriculture, II. (R.). His ripening fruits Display their sweet temptations from the wall, Or from the gay espalier.
1816. Kirby & Spence, Entomol., xiv. (1828), I. 436. The upright putrescent espaliers of vine-props.
1862. Ansted, Channel Isl., II. viii. 168. The willow … is much used, its young shoots being employed to tie up the fruit trees to the espaliers.
2. A fruit-tree trained on a lattice, usually of woodwork, or on stakes.
1662. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 223. Plant your fairest Tulips … under Espaliers.
1731. Pope, Ep. Burlington, 78. Behold Villario’s ten years toil compleat, His Quincunx darkens, his Espaliers meet.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 541. Espaliers of European grapes in gardens have long ago been introduced.
1833. Tennyson, Blackbird. The espaliers and the standards all Are thine.
† 3. A row of trees so trained. Obs.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 3. A Fruit-Garden planted … in long Espaliers.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Batardier, Fruit-Trees … placed in Espaliers or elsewhere, instead of a dead Tree.
4. attrib. and Comb., chiefly simple attrib.; also espalierwise adv., in the form of an espalier.
1717. Berkeley, Tour Italy, 16 Jan. Espalier hedges … make the ornaments of this place.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Garden Fences, The Horse-Chesnut … will bear forming Espalierwise.
1806. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Friendship (1882), I. 20. One of the espalier apple-trees in the garden is a perfect picture.
1858. Glenny, Gard. Every-day Bk., 102/1. Espalier Trees may be much more easily cleaned of vermin, because within reach.
