evergreen tree of temperate Europe and Asia, Old English iw, eow "yew," from Proto-Germanic *iwo- (cognates: Middle Dutch iwe, Dutch ijf, Old High German iwa, German Eibe, Old Norse yr), from PIE *ei-wo- (cognates: Old Irish eo, Welsh ywen "yew"), perhaps a suffixed form of root *ei- (2) "reddish, motley, yellow."
OED says French if, Spanish iva, Medieval Latin ivus are from Germanic (and says Dutch ijf is from French); others posit a Gaulish ivos as the source of these. Lithuanian jeva likewise is said to be from Germanic. The tree symbolizes both death and immortality, being poisonous as well as long-lived. Reference to its wood as well-suited to making bows dates from c. 1400.
双语例句
1. The leaves of yew trees are poisonous to cattle.
紫杉树叶会令牛中毒.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. All parts of the yew tree are poisonous, including the berries.
紫杉的各个部分都有毒，包括浆果。
来自辞典例句
3. The occurrence of Mr Lee Kuan Yew is something of an oddity.
李光耀的出现是个异数.
来自互联网
4. Spot leaf yew podocarpus face of blade has white spot.
斑叶罗汉松,叶面有白色斑点.
来自互联网
5. Lee Kuan - yew contemplates retiring with a hand on the helm.
