Is 'espalier' English, or is it actually French?

'Espalier' is a word borrowed from French 'espalier'. The word entered the English language some time around 1662.

espalier [noun] [1662]

• a plant (as a fruit tree) trained to grow flat against a support (as a wall)
• a railing or trellis on which fruit trees or shrubs are trained to grow flat

See 'espalier' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

Etymology: French, ultimately from Italian 'spalla' shoulder, from Late Latin 'spatula' shoulder blade

See more loan words from 1600s.