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 decorations2: the foliage or branches of the holly