noun

sallow

A small willow tree or shrub.

A small sallow grows beside the stream near our house.

Etymology

The Old English word named a willow. It survives particularly for certain smaller willow trees and shrubs, separate from sallow describing complexion.

More examples

  • The sallow's branches bend in the wind.
  • Several sallows grow along the edge of the marsh.
  • Bees visit the sallow's catkins in spring.

Forms

sallow · sallows

Similar words

willow
A broader term covering both small shrubs and large trees.