willow
UK: ˈwɪləʊ | US: ˈwɪloʊ
n. A type of tree or shrub with narrow leaves, flexible branches, and often growing near water.
n. The wood of this tree, used for making baskets, furniture, or cricket bats.
The word "willow" traces back to Old English welig, derived from Proto-Germanic *wel- (meaning "to twist or bend"), referencing the tree's pliable branches. This root also appears in Old Norse víðir and Dutch wilg. The modern spelling emerged in Middle English as wilwe or wilowe, influenced by the suffix -ow (a common ending for plant names, like "barrow" or "meadow"). The morpheme will preserves the original sense of flexibility, while -ow solidifies its identity as a plant.
The weeping willow by the river swayed gently in the breeze.
She crafted a delicate basket from willow branches.
Cricket bats are traditionally made from willow wood.
The artist sketched the willow's drooping silhouette at dusk.
Willows thrive in damp soil near lakeshores.