gorse

[ gawrs ]

noun

1. any spiny shrub of the genus Ulex, of the legume family, native to the Old World, especially U. europaeus, having rudimentary leaves and yellow flowers and growing in waste places and sandy soil.

gorse

/ ɡɔːs /

noun

1. any evergreen shrub of the leguminous genus Ulex, esp the European species U. europeaus, which has yellow flowers and thick green spines instead of leaves Also calledfurzewhin

Derived Forms

• ˈgorsy, adjective

Other Word Forms

• gorsy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gorse¹

before 900; Middle English gorst, Old English; akin to German Gerste, Latin hordeum barley

Word History and Origins

Origin of gorse¹

Old English gors; related to Old Irish garb rough, Latin horrēre to bristle, Old High German gersta barley, Greek khēr hedgehog

Example Sentences

"When the mountains are plastered in gorse you have cases like California with people going for a picnic and chucking glass and then you've got a problem," she said.

From BBC

A large gorse fire in County Tyrone is still being dealt with by firefighters.

From BBC

A huge gorse fire in County Down which led to the evacuation of homes in the vicinity of the Mourne Mountains is believed to have been started deliberately.

From BBC

It follows a large gorse fire on the mountain on Monday, and two other blazes in the area last week, one near Silent Valley and another near Castlewellan, in County Down.

From BBC

In May, one blaze saw the A85 in Argyll close after it set alight 500 square metres of grass and gorse.

From BBC

Related Words

• scrub
• thicket