Briar

Briar
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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Briar — ist der Name mehrerer Orte in den Vereinigten Staaten: Briar (Arkansas) Briar (Missouri) Briar (Texas) Briar Bluff (Illinois) Briar Creek (Pennsylvania) Briar Hill (Alabama) Briar Manor (New Jersey) Briar Park (Delaware) Briar Thicket (Tennessee) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Briar — Briar, TX U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas Population (2000): 5350 Housing Units (2000): 2105 Land area (2000): 20.572656 sq. miles (53.282933 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 20.572656 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Briar, TX — U.S. Census Designated Place in Texas Population (2000): 5350 Housing Units (2000): 2105 Land area (2000): 20.572656 sq. miles (53.282933 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 20.572656 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • briar — briar, brier Both spellings are used of two distinct words, meaning respectively a prickly bush and a type of wood (or a pipe made from it). The preferred spelling for both words is briar …   Modern English usage

  • Briar — Bri ar, n. Same as {Brier}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Briar — Briar, Fluß im nordamerikanischen Unionsstaate Georgia; fällt in den Savannah; an demselben 1779 Sieg der Briten über die Amerikaner …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • briar — see BRIER (Cf. brier) …   Etymology dictionary

  • briar — (also brier) ► NOUN ▪ a prickly scrambling shrub, especially a wild rose. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • briar — briar1 [brī′ər] n. BRIER1 briary adj. briar2 [brī′ər] n. 1. a tobacco pipe made from the root of BRIER2 (sense 1) 2. occas. sp. of BRIER2 (senses 1 & 2) …   English World dictionary

  • briar — There are two distinct words briar in English, both of which can also be spelled brier, and as their meanings are fairly similar, they are often confused. The older [OE] is a name given to the wild rose, although in fact this usage is as recent… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • briar — UK [ˈbraɪə(r)] / US [ˈbraɪr] noun Word forms briar : singular briar plural briars or briar 1) [countable/uncountable] a bush with thorns (= sharp points) on its branches 2) [countable] a pipe for smoking tobacco, made from briar 3)… …   English dictionary

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