noun
the dandruff of trees
Different trees have different propensities for de-twigging. Heavy shedders include your weeping willows, cottonwoods, and oaks. If you are the kind of person who wants to keep a pristine yard, it’s best to avoid these guys. Contrast those with the more controlled ginkgo that can hold its limbs together, even though it still loses its berries all over the place.
Sometimes when a person is very slender, they are described as a twig. The analogy falls short. Thin people aren’t necessarily short, nor are they more likely to fall on the ground.
As artificial Christmas trees have become more realistic, it’s surprising we have yet to see artificial pine twigs to be sprinkled around the presents as a festive confetti.