\Prune\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pruned}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Pruning}.] [OE. proine, probably fr. F. provigner to lay
down vine stocks for propagation; hence, probably, the
meaning, to cut away superfluous shoots. See {Provine}.]
1. To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or
   shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or
   smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune trees; to prune
   an essay. --Thackeray.
         Taking into consideration how they [laws] are to be
         pruned and reformed.                  --Bacon.
         Our delightful task To prune these growing plants,
         and tend these flowers.               --Milton.
2. To cut off or cut out, as useless parts.
         Horace will our superfluous branches prune.
                                               --Waller.
3. To preen; to prepare; to dress. --Spenser.
         His royal bird Prunes the immortal wing and cloys
         his beak.                             --Shak.

\Prune\, v. i.
To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt.
--Dryden.

\Prune\, n. [F. prune, from L. prunum a plum. See {Plum}.]
A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or
Turkish prunes; California prunes.
{German prune} (Bot.), a large dark purple plum, of oval
   shape, often one-sided. It is much used for preserving,
   either dried or in sirup.
{Prune tree}. (Bot.)
(a) A tree of the genus {Prunus} ({P. domestica}), which
    produces prunes.
(b) The West Indian tree, {Prunus occidentalis}.
{South African prune} (Bot.), the edible fruit of a
   sapindaceous tree ({Pappea Capensis}).