Definitions for: Yew


[n] any of numerous evergreen trees or shrubs having red cup-shaped berries and flattened needlelike leaves
[n] wood of a yew; especially the durable fine-grained light brown or red wood of the English yew valued for cabinetwork and archery bows



Webster (1913) Definition: Yew ([=u]), v. i.
See Yaw.


Yew, n. [OE. ew, AS. e['o]w, [=i]w, eoh; akin to D. ijf,
OHG. [=i]wa, [=i]ha, G. eibe, Icel. [=y]r; cf. Ir. iubhar,
Gael. iubhar, iughar, W. yw, ywen, Lith. j["e]va the black
alder tree.]
1. (Bot.) An evergreen tree (Taxus baccata) of Europe,
allied to the pines, but having a peculiar berrylike fruit
instead of a cone. It frequently grows in British
churchyards.

2. The wood of the yew. It is light red in color, compact,
fine-grained, and very elastic. It is preferred to all
other kinds of wood for bows and whipstocks, the best for
these purposes coming from Spain.

Note: The American yew (Taxus baccata, var. Canadensis)
is a low and straggling or prostrate bush, never
forming an erect trunk. The California yew ({Taxus
brevifolia}) is a good-sized tree, and its wood is used
for bows, spear handles, paddles, and other similar
implements. Another yew is found in Florida, and there
are species in Japan and the Himalayas.

3. A bow for shooting, made of the yew.


Yew ([=u]), a.
Of or pertaining to yew trees; made of the wood of a yew
tree; as, a yew whipstock.

See Also: Austrotaxus spicata, California nutmeg, California yew, conifer, coniferous tree, English yew, family Taxaceae, Florida yew, Japanese yew, New Caledonian yew, nutmeg-yew, Old World yew, Pacific yew, Pseudotaxus chienii, stinking cedar, stinking yew, Taxaceae, Taxus baccata, Taxus brevifolia, Taxus cuspidata, Taxus floridana, Torrey tree, Torreya californica, Torreya taxifolia, western yew, white-berry yew, wood, yew, yew family

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