pleach

tr.v., pleached, pleach·ing, pleach·es.

1. To plait or interlace (branches or vines, for example), especially in making a hedge or an arbor.
2. To shade or border with interlaced branches or vines.

[Middle English plechen, from Old North French plechier, probably from Latin plectere.]

(pleech, playch)

verb tr.
To interlace branches or vines to make a hedge, decorative shape, arbor, etc.

Etymology
From Old French plechier, from Latin plectere (to plait). Ultimately from the Indo-European root plek- (to plait) that is also the source of plait, pleat, pliant, ply, apply, deploy, display, exploit, replicate, and perplex

Pleached trees: Arbor:



Bicycle: wordsmith.org/words/images/pleach2.jpg [Image source: Dan Ladd www.danladd.com

Usage
"Twenty years ago I planted a row of limes along the drive at the Mills, thinking only to pleach them so they could filter the wind." — Germaine Greer; Lime Trees; The Daily Telegraph (London, UK); Jul 5, 2003.

"Limes are ideal for pleaching because they grow fast, respond enthusiastically to pruning, and have very long whippy new stems that are easy to bend and tie into position." — Monty Don; Pleacher's Pet; The Observer (London, UK); Nov 3, 2002.

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The intertwined branches of a line of trees that form a barrier.

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interlace, plait

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: form or weave into a braid or braids
  Synonym: braid

Meaning #2: interlace the shoots of
  Synonym: plash

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