An averruncator is a form of long shears used in arboriculture for averruncating or pruning off the higher branches of trees, etc. The word averruncate (from Latin averruncare, "to ward off, remove mischief") glided into meaning to weed the ground, prune vines, etc., by a supposed derivation from the Lat. ab, "off", and eruncare, "to weed out", and it was spelt aberuncate to suit this; but the New English Dictionary regards such a derivation as impossible.

It has a compound blade attached to a handle between five and eight feet long. The blades are closed with a string and pulley, and they are opened with a spring.