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.
Taking into consideration how they [laws] are to be pruned and reformed.
Bacon.
Our delightful task
To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers.
Milton.
2.
To cut off or cut out, as useless parts.
Horace will our superfluous branches prune.
Waller.
3.
To preen; to prepare; to dress.
Spenser.
His royal bird
Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Prune, v. i.
To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.
Prune, 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.
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 (P. domestica), which produces prunes. (b) The West Indian tree, Prunus occidentalis. -- South African prune Bot., the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Pappea Capensis).
© Webster 1913.