Caprification

Caprification
Caprification Cap`ri*fi*ca"tion, n. [L. caprificatio, fr. caprificare to ripen figs by caprification, fr. caprificus the wild fig; caper goat + ficus fig.] The practice of hanging, upon the cultivated fig tree, branches of the wild fig infested with minute hymenopterous insects. [1913 Webster]

Note: It is supposed that the little insects insure fertilization by carrying the pollen from the male flowers near the opening of the fig down to the female flowers, and also accelerate ripening the fruit by puncturing it. The practice has existed since ancient times, but its benefit has been disputed. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • caprification — [kap΄rə fi kā′shən] n. 〚L caprificatio, fertilization of figs by the pollination of the gall wasp < caprificare, to fertilize figs (by this process) < caprificus: see CAPRIFIG〛 the pollination of certain cultivated figs through the transfer to… …   Universalium

  • caprification — [ kaprifikasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • v. 1710; lat. caprificus « figuier à bouc » ♦ Agric. Opération qui consiste à suspendre parmi les branches d un figuier cultivé des figues sauvages (ou caprifiguesn. f.), pour faciliter la fécondation (par l… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Caprification — (v. lat.), schon den Griechen u. Römern bekanntes, in der Levante, auch zum Theil in Italien übliches Verfahren, die Reise der Feigen zu befördern u. sie in größerer Menge zu erhalten. Man hängt über den (allein cultivirten) weiblichen Feigenbaum …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Caprification — der Feigenfrüchte nennt man die Beschleunigung der Reise derselben entweder dadurch, daß man in die im Sommer angesetzten Früchte mit irgend einem spitzigen Instrumente oben hinein sticht oder ein kleines rundes Stück Rinde dort herausschneidet,… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • caprification — [kap΄rə fi kā′shən] n. [L caprificatio, fertilization of figs by the pollination of the gall wasp < caprificare, to fertilize figs (by this process) < caprificus: see CAPRIFIG] the pollination of certain cultivated figs through the transfer …   English World dictionary

  • caprification — noun Etymology: Latin caprification , caprificatio, from caprificare to pollinate by caprification, from caprificus Date: 1601 artificial pollination of figs that usually bear only pistillate flowers by hanging male flowering branches of the… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • caprification — ˌkaprəfə̇ˈkāshən noun ( s) Etymology: Latin caprification , caprificatio, from caprificatus, past participle of caprificare to ripen figs by caprification, from caprificus wild fig, from capri + ficus fig more at fig : a horticultural operation… …   Useful english dictionary

  • caprification — n. [L. caprificus, wild fig tree] The method or process of pollination by Blastophaga psenes, a chalcid fig wasp, that breeds in wild capri figs and serves to pollinate Smyrna figs …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • caprification — noun A process for pollinating figs by hanging clusters of wild fig flowers (of genus Caprificus) in the trees (pollen being transferred by wasps) …   Wiktionary

  • caprification — (ka pri fi ka sion) s. f. Action d accélérer la maturation des figues, en plaçant sur l arbre certains insectes qui proviennent du figuier sauvage. ÉTYMOLOGIE    Bas lat. caprificus, de capra, chèvre, et ficus, figuier (voy. caprifiguier), avec… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”