Yew
/juː/noun
A coniferous evergreen tree or shrub with flat needle-like leaves and red, berry-like seed coverings.
Did you know?Yew wood was famously used for longbows, and the tree’s extreme longevity made it a powerful symbol of death, rebirth, and sacredness in European tradition.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ei-
“A root associated with yew or evergreen trees in ancient Indo-European branches.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*īhwaz
“Yew tree.”
Old English
OE
īw
“Yew tree.”
Middle English
ME
yew
“Yew tree.”
Modern English
English
yew
“A yew tree or its wood.”