I. ə̇ˈspalyər, eˈs-, -späl-, -spāl-; -al(ə)ˌyā, -äl-, -lēˌā; |espə|li(ə)r noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from Middle French, trellis, from Old Italian spalliera, from spalla shoulder, from Late Latin spatula shoulder blade — more at epaulet
1. : a fruit tree or other plant trained to grow flat against a building, wall, railing, trellis, or other support
2. : a railing or trellis on which fruit trees or shrubs are trained to grow flat
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to train to grow flat on or as if on an espalier : furnish with an espalier