judas tree
Preserved but no longer current.
A leguminous tree of southern Europe (Cercis siliquastrum) which flowers before the leaves appear, so called because of a Greek tradition that it was upon one of these trees that Judas Iscariot hanged himself. But see ELDER-TREE, which is also sometimes called by the same name. See also MARSIGLIO.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “judas tree” mean?
A leguminous tree of southern Europe (Cercis siliquastrum) which flowers before the leaves appear, so called because of a Greek tradition that it was upon one of these trees that Judas Iscariot hanged himself. But see ELDER-TREE, which is also sometimes called by the same name. See also MARSIGLIO.
Is “judas tree” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.