Blackbine

/ˈblækˌbaɪn/ noun

Definition

A climbing or trailing plant with dark-colored stems or branches.

Etymology

Compound of 'black' and 'bine' (Old English 'bīne', the twining or climbing stem of hops). Originally referred to hop plants with dark stems.

Kelly Says

Hops grow on vines called bines, and medieval brewers would have noticed some varieties had distinctly darker stems—giving them a practical way to distinguish different plant varieties before modern botanical classification.

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