from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Maple \Ma"ple\ (m[=a]"p'l), n. [AS. mapolder, mapulder, mapol;
akin to Icel. m["o]purr; cf. OHG. mazzaltra, mazzoltra, G.
massholder.] (Bot.)
A tree of the genus {Acer}, including about fifty species.
{Acer saccharinum} is the {rock maple}, or {sugar maple},
from the sap of which sugar is made, in the United States, in
great quantities, by evaporation; the {red maple} or {swamp
maple} is {Acer rubrum}; the {silver maple}, {Acer
dasycarpum}, having fruit wooly when young; the {striped
maple}, {Acer Pennsylvanium}, called also {moosewood}. The
common maple of Europe is {Acer campestre}, the {sycamore
maple} is {Acer Pseudo-platanus}, and the {Norway maple} is
{Acer platanoides}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Maple is much used adjectively, or as the first part of
a compound; as, maple tree, maple leaf, etc.
[1913 Webster]
{Bird's-eye maple}, {Curled maple}, varieties of the wood of
the rock maple, in which a beautiful lustrous grain is
produced by the sinuous course of the fibers.
{Maple honey}, {Maple molasses}, {Maple syrup}, or {Maple
sirup}, maple sap boiled to the consistency of molasses.
{Maple sugar}, sugar obtained from the sap of the sugar maple
by evaporation.
[1913 Webster]