pollard
v.v. to cut off the top and branches of a tree to encourage new growth. This is usually done to keep trees at a certain height or to get wood for fuel.
v. to prune a tree by cutting back the main branches to the trunk to promote a dense head of foliage and branches. Often used to maintain a specific size or to harvest wood systematically.
The gardeners pollard the willow trees every winter.
The city decided to pollard the lime trees along the street to prevent them from interfering with the overhead power lines.
Traditional land management practices often required farmers to pollard local oaks, providing a sustainable source of firewood while ensuring the trees remained healthy and productive for generations.
From Middle English poll (“head”) + the pejorative suffix -ard (“person characterized by or associated with something, often in a negative way”). The suffix has the same meaning as in drunkard and coward.
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object, typically a species of tree or the tree itself.