Main Entry: hol·ly

Pronunciation: \ˈhä-lē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural hollies

Etymology: Middle English holin, holly, from Old English holen; akin to Old High German hulis holly, Middle Irish cuilenn

Date: before 12th century

1 : any of a genus (Ilex of the family Aquifoliaceae, the holly family) of trees and shrubs; especially : either of two (I. opaca of the eastern United States and I. aquifolium of Eurasia) with spiny-margined evergreen leaves and usually red berries often used for Christmas decorations
2 : the foliage or branches of the holly