plantula

plantula [LL < 3 planta+-ula] 1 little plant: a young shoot detached from parent plant for propagation, slip, cutting. b young plant, seedling. a 1268 in ‥ centum ~is pirorum emptis et plantatis in gardino de Evereswell’ Pipe 112 r. 1d.; est sine radice tua plantula, nec diuturna / floris habet laudem Gower VC II 139.  b s1247 tam agricole quam hortolani ‥ se spe seminum, ~arum, fructuum, et segetum frustratos vehementer formidabant M. Par. Maj. IV 604; 1276 in ~is olerum, v d. ob. Ac. Stratton 191; 1279 in ~is olerum iiij d. Ib. 222; s1277 Oxonie studium per eum quasi plantula vernat Wykes 275. 2 (fig.); b (w. ref. to person). istis se perhibet Ysaie pagina testem / qua stet paginule plantula firma mee Garl. Epith. I 96; femur illius plantula violarum J. Howd. Cant. 5.1; ~as sanctitatis novellas jugiter visitans consolacionum sanctarum irriguo rore perfundit V. Edm. Rich C 592; 1430 eterne legis dispergere semina, et celestes ~as ad fructus dirigere spiritales EpAcOx 55.  b P. Blois Carm. 19. 1. 6 (v. plantator 1b); gens hec, novis ~arum succrementis, vires in insula non modicas habent Gir. EH II 15; speramus ‥ tantam ~am tamque undique fructiferam in varias utilitates et commoda pululandam Reg. Ebor. 10; 1283 liberos ‥ ~e tam eximie Peckham Ep. 362; 1320 ecclesia Anglicana in cujus plantario ~a novella quasi lignum vite dextera plantatum ‥ accrevit Reg. Heref. 142; c1327 ut in commisso nobis orto Dominico novelle ~e exculte proficiant J. Mason Ep. 32 p. 215; minoris ordinis ~as juveniles Capgr. Hen. 139.