Definition of yew
1a : any of a genus (Taxus of the family Taxaceae, the yew family) of evergreen gymnospermous trees and shrubs with stiff linear leaves and seeds surrounded by a fleshy red aril: such as
(1) : a long-lived Eurasian tree or shrub (T. baccata)
— called also English yew
(2) : a low straggling bush (T. canadensis) of the eastern U.S. and Canada
(3) : pacific yew
b : the wood of a yew especially : the heavy fine-grained wood of the English yew
2 archaic : an archery bow made of yew
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Time Traveler for yew
The first known use of yew was before the 12th century
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