brier Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun tangled mass of prickly plants
    brier patch; brierpatch.
  2. noun a thorny stem or twig
  3. noun Eurasian rose with prickly stems and fragrant leaves and bright pink flowers followed by scarlet hips
    sweetbrier; briar; sweetbriar; Rosa eglanteria; eglantine.
  4. 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
    catbrier; horse brier; greenbrier; Smilax rotundifolia; briar; bullbrier; horse-brier.
  5. noun evergreen treelike Mediterranean shrub having fragrant white flowers in large terminal panicles and hard woody roots used to make tobacco pipes
    tree heath; Erica arborea; briar.

WordNet

Bri"er, Bri"ar noun (Also<
  • Brier
  • Briar
)
Etymology
OE. brere, brer, AS. brer, brær; cf. Ir. briar prickle, thorn, brier, pin, Gael. preas bush, brier, W. prys, prysg.
Definitions
  1. A plant with a slender woody stem bearing stout prickles; especially, species of Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax.
  2. Fig.: Anything sharp or unpleasant to the feelings.
    The thorns and briers of reproof. Cowper.

Webster 1913