Definition of Briar

1. Noun. Eurasian rose with prickly stems and fragrant leaves and bright pink flowers followed by scarlet hips.

Exact synonyms: Brier, Eglantine, Rosa Eglanteria, Sweetbriar, Sweetbrier
Generic synonyms: Rose, Rosebush

2. Noun. A very prickly woody vine of the eastern United States growing in tangled masses having tough round stems with shiny leathery leaves and small greenish flowers followed by clusters of inedible shiny black berries.
Exact synonyms: Brier, Bullbrier, Catbrier, Greenbrier, Horse Brier, Horse-brier, Smilax Rotundifolia
Group relationships: Genus Smilax, Smilax
Generic synonyms: Vine
Derivative terms: Briary

3. Noun. Evergreen treelike Mediterranean shrub having fragrant white flowers in large terminal panicles and hard woody roots used to make tobacco pipes.
Exact synonyms: Brier, Erica Arborea, Tree Heath
Generic synonyms: Erica, True Heath
Terms within: Briarroot

4. Noun. A pipe made from the root (briarroot) of the tree heath.
Exact synonyms: Briar Pipe
Generic synonyms: Pipe, Tobacco Pipe

Definition of Briar

1. n. Same as Brier.

Definition of Briar

1. Noun. Any of a number of unrelated thicket-forming thorny plants. ¹

2. Noun. A pipe made from the burl of the white heath tree. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Briar

1. brier [n -S] : BRIARY [adj] - See also: brier

Medical Definition of Briar

1. 1. A plant with a slender woody stem bearing stout prickles; especially, species of Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax. 2. Anything sharp or unpleasant to the feelings. "The thorns and briers of reproof." (Cowper) Brier root, the root of the southern Smilax laurifolia and S. Walleri; used for tobacco pipes. Cat brier, Green brier, several species of Smilax (S. Rotundifolia, etc) Sweet brier (Rosa rubiginosa). See Sweetbrier. Yellow brier, the Rosa Eglantina. Origin: OE. Brere, brer, AS. Brer, braer; cf. Ir. Briar prickle, thorn, brier, pin, Gael. Preas bush, brier, W. Prys, prysg. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Briar

brewsky
brewster
brewster's angle
brewsterite
brewsters
brey
breyde
breyed
breying
breys
brezilin
brezinaite
brianite
brianroulstonite
brianyoungite
briar pipe
briard
briards
briared
briarroot
briarroots
briars
briartite
briarwood
briarwoods
bribable
bribe

Literary usage of Briar

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The American Revolution by John Fiske (1896)
"his approach the British abandoned the town, and retreated toward Savannah. Ashe pursued closely, but at Americans briar Creek, on the 3d of March, 1779, ..."

2. The Works of George Meredith by George Meredith (1910)
"BREATH OF THE briar 0 briar-SCENTS, on yon wet wing Of warm South-west wind brushing by, You mind me of the sweetest thing That ever mingled frank and shy: ..."

3. The Book of Gems: The Poets and Artists of Great Britain by Samuel Carter Hall (1838)
"... But wouldst be left alone, Alone thou leavest me, and nought of thine remains. What! hath no poet's lyre O'er thee, sweet breathing briar, ..."

4. Memorial Edition of Thomas Bewick's Works by Thomas Bewick, Austin Dobson (1885)
"THE FOX AND THE briar. A Fox scrambling hastily over a hedge, in his flight ... True, says the briar, but recollect that you intended to have made me serve ..."

5. Fifty Years of English Song: Selections from the Poets of the Reign of Victoria by Henry Fitz Randolph (1887)
"WILD-ROSE, Sweet-briar, Eglantine, All these pretty names are mine, ... Were the beams that thread the briar In the morn with golden fire Scented too, ..."

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