whin

[ win, hwin ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. any thorny or prickly shrub, especially gorse.

whin

¹

/ wɪn /

noun

1. another name for gorse

whin

²

/ wɪn /

noun

1. short for whinstone

Word History and Origins

Origin of whin¹

1375–1425; late Middle English whynne, apparently < Scandinavian; compare Icelandic hvīngras bent grass, Danish hvene, Swedish ( h ) ven

Word History and Origins

Origin of whin¹

C11: from Scandinavian; compare Old Danish hvine ( græs ), Norwegian hvine, Swedish hven

Origin of whin²

C14: quin, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

An' this winter whin iverything's so high an' wages not raised, a woman can't find enough to cook for her man's dinner.

From Project Gutenberg

We always kapes a full cupboard to thrate our neighbors wid whin they comes in.

From Project Gutenberg

On, ever on, in the darkness and the mire, through clumps of whin and stray bushes of wild briar.

From Project Gutenberg

Francie lay there in his appointed hiding-hole, looking abroad between two whin-bushes.

From Project Gutenberg

It always makes me feel aisier about mesilf whin I r-read how bad Julius Cayzar was.

From Project Gutenberg