Young trees, usually less than four inches in diameter, that are still in their early growth stage.
From 'sap' (the fluid in trees, from Old English 'sæp') plus the diminutive suffix '-ling' (meaning a small or young version). A sapling is literally a young tree full of sap, emphasizing its youth and vitality.
Saplings are actually tougher than they look—because they're young and flexible, they can bend in strong winds and storms without breaking, while older rigid trees snap! That's why forests grow back so well after natural disasters.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.