Topiary
/ˈtoʊ.piˌɛri/noun
The art of trimming trees or shrubs into ornamental shapes.
Did you know?Topiary comes through Latin from Greek *topos* (“place”), the same ancient root behind words like *topic* and *utopia*, so its history is tied to the idea of arranging space itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tewH-
“to swell, be strong; source of the idea of forming or shaping”
Ancient Greek
Greek
τόπος (tópos)
“place, spot, or region”
Latin
Latin
topiārius
“pertaining to ornamental gardening or landscape design”
Late Latin
Latin
topiarius
“a landscape gardener; one who shapes gardens ornamentally”
16th Century
English
topiary
“ornamental clipping of shrubs and trees into shapes”
Modern English
English
topiary
“the art or practice of shaping plants by trimming them”
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