Taxus baccata

Yew Yew, n. [OE. ew, AS. e['o]w, [=i]w, eoh; akin to D. ijf, OHG. [=i]wa, [=i]ha, G. eibe, Icel. [=y]r; cf. Ir. iubhar, Gael. iubhar, iughar, W. yw, ywen, Lith. j["e]va the black alder tree.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Bot.) An evergreen tree ({Taxus baccata}) of Europe, allied to the pines, but having a peculiar berrylike fruit instead of a cone. It frequently grows in British churchyards. [1913 Webster]

2. The wood of the yew. It is light red in color, compact, fine-grained, and very elastic. It is preferred to all other kinds of wood for bows and whipstocks, the best for these purposes coming from Spain. [1913 Webster]

Note: The {American yew} ({Taxus baccata}, var. {Canadensis}) is a low and straggling or prostrate bush, never forming an erect trunk. The {California yew} ({Taxus brevifolia}) is a good-sized tree, and its wood is used for bows, spear handles, paddles, and other similar implements. Another yew is found in Florida, and there are species in Japan and the Himalayas. [1913 Webster]

3. A bow for shooting, made of the yew. [1913 Webster]