a. [f. L. ligne-us (f. lign-um wood) + -OUS. Cf. F. ligneux.]
1. Of the nature of wood; woody: said esp. of plants and their texture (opposed to herbaceous).
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 504. They being of a more Ligneous Nature, will incorporate with the Tree it selfe.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VI. xii. 334. The exhalations from ligneous and lean bodies, as bones, hair, and the like.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Plants, Under-Shrubs or ligneous Plants, are those that are less than Shrubs.
1792. J. Belknap, Hist. New Hampsh., III. 118. That fossil, ligneous substance called peat.
1802. Bingley, Anim. Biog. (1813), III. 247. Towards the centre the galls are hard and ligneous.
1834. Mrs. Somerville, Connex. Phys. Sci., xxvii. (1849), 365. In approaching the equator, the ligneous exceed the number of herbaceous plants.
1884. Bower & Scott, De Bary’s Phaner., 176. The … secondary bast of ligneous Dicotyledons.
2. (A mod. use, chiefly jocular.) Made or consisting of wood, wooden. Also fig.
Ligneous marble, ‘wood coated or prepared so as to resemble marble’ (Ogilvie, 1882).
1812. H. & J. Smith, Rej. Addr., x. (1873), 94. That ligneous barricado, which … now serves as the entrance of the lowly cottage.
1859. Sala, Tw. round Clock (1861), 62. The ligneous charger … painted bright cream-colour [etc.].
1865. Daily Tel., 18 Oct., 7/5. Fraschini, who is ligneous as ever, and looks as if he were cut out of serviceable oak.
