The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pruning \Prun"ing\, n.
The act of trimming, or removing what is superfluous.
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(Falconry) That which is cast off by bird in pruning her feathers; leavings.
--Beau. & Fl.Pruning hook, or Pruning knife, cutting instrument used in pruning trees, etc.
Pruning shears, shears for pruning trees, vines, etc.
Wiktionary
n. (context plurale tantum English) A tool consisting of two blades with bevel edges, connected by a pivot, used for gardening
WordNet
n. shears with strong blades used for light pruning of woody plants
Wikipedia
Pruning shears, also called hand pruners (in American English), or secateurs, are a type of scissors for use on plants. They are strong enough to prune hard branches of trees and shrubs, sometimes up to two centimetres thick. They are used in gardening, arboriculture, farming, flower arranging, and nature conservation, where fine-scale habitat management is required.
Loppers are a larger, two-handed, long-handled version for branches thicker than pruning shears can cut.
Usage examples of "pruning shears".
The sight of her there upon her knees, pruning shears within her hand, took him slightly aback.
It opened as he stepped toward it, and there was Amanda, wearing a coverall, rather stained around the knees, with a pair of pruning shears in her hand.
The fact that her other hand held the pruning shears made it difficult for her to extract herself without pulling in some way that risked making her lose her composure.
Which, I'll remind you, are as essential to this vineyard as your pruning shears.
Amanda seized her pruning shears and attacked her roses through a blur of tears.
He brandished his pruning shears at it, but the dog merely danced out of range and kept barking.
With a sigh, Maia turned around and took a pair of pruning shears from the pocket of her borrowed smock.