gorse

gorse
—gorsy, adj.
/gawrs/, n.
any spiny shrub of the genus Ulex, of the legume family, native to the Old World, esp. U. europaeus, having rudimentary leaves and yellow flowers and growing in waste places and sandy soil. Also called furze; esp. Brit., whin.
[bef. 900; ME gorst, OE; akin to G Gerste, L hordeum barley]

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Any of several related plants of the genera Ulex and Genista.

Common gorse (U. europaeus) is a spiny, yellow-flowered leguminous shrub native to Europe and naturalized in the Middle Atlantic states and on Vancouver Island. The large green spines and green twigs of Spanish gorse (G. hispanica), native to Spain and northern Italy, make it appear evergreen in winter. Both species bear yellow, pea-like flowers and grow well in dry soil.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Synonyms:
, , (Ulex Europaeus)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gorse — Gorse, n. [OE. & AS. gorst; perh. akin to E. grow, grass.] (Bot.) Furze. See {Furze}. [1913 Webster] The common, overgrown with fern, and rough With prickly gorse. Cowper. [1913 Webster] {Gorse bird} (Zo[ o]l.), the European linnet; called also… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gorse —    Gorse bushes can produce one or two flowers at any time of the year; hence the common saying, When the gorse is not in bloom, then kissing s not in fashion .    Occasionally it is included among the *flowers regarded as unlucky and not to be… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • gorse — O.E. gors gorse, furze, from P.Gmc. *gorst (Cf. O.S., O.H.G. gersta, M.Du. gherste, Du. gerst, Ger. gerste barley ), from PIE *ghers to bristle (Cf. L. hordeum barley; see HORROR (Cf. horror …   Etymology dictionary

  • gorse — [go:s US go:rs] n [U] [: Old English; Origin: gorst] a ↑prickly bush with bright yellow flowers, which grows in the countryside in Europe …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • gorse — [ gɔrs ] noun uncount a small bush that has yellow flowers and THORNS and grows wild in the countryside in Europe …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • gorse — ► NOUN ▪ a yellow flowered shrub, the leaves of which have the form of spines. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • gorse — [gôrs] n. [ME gorst < OE < IE base * ĝhers , to stiffen, bristle > L horrere, to stand on end] FURZE gorsy adj …   English World dictionary

  • Gorse — Taxobox name = Gorse image width = 220px image caption = Dwarf Gorse regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Magnoliopsida ordo = Fabales familia = Fabaceae subfamilia = Faboideae tribus = Genisteae genus = Ulex genus authority = L.… …   Wikipedia

  • Gorse — Gorce, Gorse, Gorsse Toponyme occitan désignant une haie, un enclos, ou encore un buisson épineux (gaulois *gorto). Le patronyme désigne celui qui est originaire de l un des nombreux lieux dits portant ce nom. Le nom Gorce est fréquent dans le… …   Noms de famille

  • gorse — Furze Furze, n. [OE. firs, As. fyrs.] (Bot.) A thorny evergreen shrub ({Ulex Europ[ae]us}), with beautiful yellow flowers, very common upon the plains and hills of Great Britain; called also {gorse}, and {whin}. The dwarf furze is {Ulex nanus}.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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