prune

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pruned p. pr. & vb. n. Pruning. ] [ OE. proine, probably fr. F. provigner to lay down vine stocks for propagation; hence, probably, the meaning, to cut away superfluous shoots. See Provine. ] 1. To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune trees; to prune an essay. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Taking into consideration how they [ laws ] are to be pruned and reformed. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our delightful task
To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cut off or cut out, as useless parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Horace will our superfluous branches prune. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To preen; to prepare; to dress. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

His royal bird
Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. prune, from L. prunum a plum. See Plum. ] A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or Turkish prunes; California prunes. [ 1913 Webster ]

German prune (Bot.), a large dark purple plum, of oval shape, often one-sided. It is much used for preserving, either dried or in sirup. --
Prune tree. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus Prunus (Prunus domestica), which produces prunes. (b) The West Indian tree, Prunus occidentalis. --
South African prune (Bot.), the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Pappea Capensis). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., perhaps from G. bræune quinsy, croup. ] (Med.) (a) Angina, or angina pectoris. (b) Thrush. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prunella salt (Old Chem.), niter fused and cast into little balls. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., dim. of prune. See Prune, n. ] A kind of small and very acid French plum; -- applied especially to the stoned and dried fruit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. prunelle, dim. of prune. See Prune a plum. ] A species of dried plum; prunelle. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. prunelle, probably so called from its color resembling that of prunes. See Prune, n. ] A smooth woolen stuff, generally black, used for making shoes; a kind of lasting; -- formerly used also for clergymen's gowns. [ 1913 Webster ]