brier

Noun
Synonyms: brierpatchbrier patchsweetbriersweetbriarbriareglantineRosa eglanteriabullbriergreenbriercatbrierhorse brierhorse-brier

WordNet 3.0

Noun (5)

  1. tangled mass of prickly plantsSynonyms: brierpatchbrier patch
  2. a thorny stem or twig
  3. Eurasian rose with prickly stems and fragrant leaves and bright pink flowers followed by scarlet hipsSynonyms: sweetbriersweetbriarbriareglantineRosa eglanteria
  4. a very prickly woody vine of the eastern United States growing in tangled masses having tough round stems with shiny leathery leaves and small greenish flowers followed by clusters of inedible shiny black berriesSynonyms: bullbriergreenbriercatbrierhorse brierhorse-brierbriarSmilax rotundifolia
  5. evergreen treelike Mediterranean shrub having fragrant white flowers in large terminal panicles and hard woody roots used to make tobacco pipesSynonyms: tree heathbriarErica arborea
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Brier \Bri"er\, Briar \Bri"ar\ (br[imac]"[~e]r), n. [OE. brere, brer, AS. br[=e]r, br[ae]r; cf. Ir. briar prickle, thorn, brier, pin, Gael. preas bush, brier, W. prys, prysg.]

1.A plant with a slender woody stem bearing stout prickles; especially, species of Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax. [1913 Webster]

2.Fig.: Anything sharp or unpleasant to the feelings. [1913 Webster]

The thorns and briers of reproof.— Cowper.[1913 Webster]

Brier root, the root of the southern Smilax laurifolia and Smilax Walteri; -- used for tobacco pipes. See also 2nd brier.

Cat brier, Green brier, several species of Smilax (Smilax rotundifolia, etc.)

Sweet brier (Rosa rubiginosa). See Sweetbrier.

Yellow brier, the Rosa Eglantina. [1913 Webster]

Brier \Bri"er\, n.

1.the white heath Erica arborea. --RHUD. [PJC]

2.a smoking pipe made of the root of the brier[1].

Note: Brierroot seems to have been used formerly as a term meaning root of the Smilax laurifolia and is now defined as root of the Erica arborea. Not clear when this changed. -- PJC. [PJC]

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