Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Brier"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Brier
This word occurs frequently, and is the translation of several
different terms. (1.) Micah 7:4, it denotes a species of thorn
shrub used for hedges. In Prov. 15:19 the word is rendered
"thorn" (Heb. _hedek_, "stinging"), supposed by some to be what
is called the "apple of Sodom" (q.v.).
(2.) Ezek. 28:24, _sallon'_, properly a "prickle," such as is
found on the shoots of the palm tree.
(3.) Isa. 55:13, probably simply a thorny bush. Some,
following the Vulgate Version, regard it as the "nettle."
(4.) Isa. 5:6; 7:23-25, etc., frequently used to denote thorny
shrubs in general. In 10:17; 27:4, it means troublesome men.
(5.) In Heb. 6:8 the Greek word (tribolos) so rendered means
"three-pronged," and denotes the land caltrop, a low throny
shrub resembling in its spikes the military "crow-foot." Comp.
Matt. 7:16, "thistle."
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Brier \Bri"er\, Briar \Bri"ar\, 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}.
2. Fig.: 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. Walteri}; -- 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}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
brier
n 1: tangled mass of prickly plants [syn: {brierpatch}, {brier
patch}]
2: a thorny stem or twig
3: Eurasian rose with prickly stems and fragrant leaves and
bright pink flowers followed by scarlet hips [syn: {sweetbrier},
{sweetbriar}, {briar}, {eglantine}, {Rosa eglanteria}]
4: 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 [syn: {bullbrier},
{greenbrier}, {catbrier}, {horsebrier}, {briar}, {Smilax
rotundifolia}]
5: evergreen treelike Mediterranean shrub having fragrant white
flowers in large terminal panicles and hard woody roots
used to make tobacco pipes [syn: {tree heath}, {briar}, {Erica
arborea}]
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