briar

Meaning

Noun

• Any of many plants with thorny stems growing in dense clusters, such as many in the Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax genera.
• Anything sharp or unpleasant to the feelings.
• The white heath, Erica arborea (species), a thorny Mediterranean shrub.
• A pipe for smoking, made from the roots of that shrub.

Origin

• From Middle English brere, from Old English brēr, brǣr. Compare Icelandic brörr.
• From French bruyère, assimilated with Etymology 1, above.