norway spruce
norway spruce Lexical Profile
• noun
A large, fast-growing evergreen coniferous tree native to Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe, characterized by its drooping branchlets and long cones.
"Every winter, the city erects a giant Norway spruce in the town square to serve as the official Christmas tree."
The lightweight, pale-colored wood of the Norway spruce, widely used in construction, papermaking, and the crafting of musical instruments like violins and guitars.
"The luthier specifically selected aged Norway spruce for the soundboard of the custom acoustic guitar."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name combines 'Norway', referring to its native range in Northern Europe (Scandinavia), and 'spruce', which derives from the Middle English 'Spruce' (an alteration of 'Pruce' meaning Prussia), as such trees were historically imported from Prussia.