[es.pal.ier] n [F, ultim. fr. It spalla shoulder, fr. LL spatula shoulder blade--more at epaulet] (1662) 1: a plant (as a fruit tree) trained to grow flat against a support (as a wall)
2: a railing or trellis on which fruit trees or shrubs are trained to grow flat
[2]espalier vt (1810) 1: to train as an espalier
2: to furnish with an espalier