briar

¹bri·ar

noun \ˈbrī(-ə)r\

Definition of BRIAR

: a plant (as a rose, blackberry, or greenbrier) having a usually woody and thorny or prickly stem; also : a mass or twig of these

— bri·ary \ˈbrī(-ə)r-ē\ adjective

Variants of BRIAR

bri·ar also bri·er \ˈbrī(-ə)r\

Origin of BRIAR

Middle English brere, from Old English brēr

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Seed Plant Terms

aubergine, box, bramble, composite, perpetual, pulse, trefoil

²briar

noun

Definition of BRIAR

: a tobacco pipe made from the root or stem of a European heath (Erica arborea)

Origin of BRIAR

short for briar pipe, from briar wood of the European heath, from French bruyère heath, from Middle French bruiere, from Vulgar Latin *brucaria, from Late Latin brucus heather, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish froech heather; akin to Greek ereikē heather

First Known Use: 1882

Other Wood Production Terms

cord, lumber, punk

Rhymes with BRIAR

choir, fire, gyre, hire, ire, mire, prior, sire, spire, squire, tier, tire, wire