erica

¹

[ er-i-kuh ]

noun

1. any of numerous low-growing evergreen shrubs or small trees belonging to the genus Erica, of the heath family, including several species of heather.

Erica

²

[ er-i-kuh ]

noun

1. a female given name: derived from Eric.

erica

/ ˈɛrɪkə /

noun

1. any shrub of the ericaceous genus Erica, including the heaths and some heathers

Word History and Origins

Origin of erica¹

1820–30; < New Latin Erica, Latin < Greek ereíkē heath (plant), akin to Old Irish froech, Russian véres ( k )

Word History and Origins

Origin of erica¹

C19: via Latin from Greek ereikē heath

Example Sentences

Isis, arrayed in mourning robes like the wandering Demeter, sought Osiris everywhere lamenting, and found the chest at last in an erica tree that entirely covered it.

From Project Gutenberg

I entreat you to have her grave carefully attended to, and to keep it strewn with her favorite flowers, ericas and pinks.

From Project Gutenberg

Our route lay over a sort of moorland, sprinkled with rare ericas such as we carefully preserve in greenhouses at home.

From Project Gutenberg

The enclosed twig of erica I picked from her sewing-table, and send it to keep you from being jealous.

From Project Gutenberg

It is singular, and perhaps significant, that the word eriko, in Greek, ἐρίϗω, whence erica is probably derived, means to break in pieces, to mangle.

From Project Gutenberg