early 14c., from sap (n.1) + diminutive suffix -ling. This probably is the source of American English slang sap (n.3) "club, short staff" (1899) and the verb sap (v.2) "to hit (someone) with a sap" (1926).
双语例句
1. She plucked some leaves off the sapling.
她从树苗上摘下一些叶子.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. A sapling needs pruning, a child discipline.
小树要砍, 小孩要管.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
3. She cut down the sapling with one chop.
她一斧子就把树苗砍倒了.
来自辞典例句
4. The sapling has grown into a big tree after five years.
五年过去了,小树苗长成了一颗大树.
来自互联网
5. Like sapling trees, small children are very pliable.