Meaning of Briar | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A topographic surname from Middle English.
2. Any of many plants with thorny stems growing in dense clusters, such as many in the Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax genera.
3. White heath (Erica arborea), a thorny Mediterranean shrub.
4. A unisex given name from English.
5. Anything that is sharp or unpleasant to the feelings.
   figuratively
6. A pipe for smoking, made from the roots of that shrub.

Equivalents

Examples

“Youngthes folke now flocken in every where, To gather May-buskets and smelling brere”

“¶ And thou ſonne of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their wordes, though bryars and thornes be with thee, and thou doeſt dwell among ſcorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be diſmayed at their lookes, though they be a rebellious houſe.”

“Rov'd far, and gather'd much : some harsh, 't is true, / Pick'd from the thorns and briers of reproof, / But wholesome, well-digested;[…]”

“Then he put the insulted pipe in his pocket, corked himself up with the immense briar, and sneered at Cripps over the top of it.”

CEFR level