holly

¹

[ hol-ee ]

noun

, plural hol·lies.

1. any of numerous trees or shrubs of the genus Ilex, as I. opaca American holly, the state tree of Delaware, or I. aquifolium English holly, having glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries.
2. the foliage and berries, used for decoration, especially during the Christmas season.

Holly

²

[ hol-ee ]

noun

1. Buddy Charles Hardin Holley, 1936–59, U.S. rock and roll singer and guitarist.
2. a female or male given name.

Holly

¹

/ ˈhɒlɪ /

noun

1. HollyBuddy19361959MUSMUSIC: rock singerMUSIC: guitaristMUSIC: songwriter Buddy. real name Charles Harden Holley. 1936–59, US rock-and-roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His hits (all 1956–59) include "That'll be the Day", "Maybe Baby", "Peggy Sue", "Oh, Boy", "Think It Over", and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"

holly

²

/ ˈhɒlɪ /

noun

1. any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex, such as the Eurasian I. aquifolium, having bright red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
2. branches of any of these trees, used for Christmas decorations
3. holly oak
   another name for holm oak

Word History and Origins

Origin of holly¹

before 1150; Middle English holi ( e ), holyn, Old English hole ( g ) n; cognate with Welsh celyn, Irish cuillean; akin to Dutch, German hulst, French houx (< Old High German hulis )

Word History and Origins

Origin of holly¹

Old English holegn; related to Old Norse hulfr, Old High German hulis, German Hulst, Old Slavonic kolja prick

Example Sentences

Butterfly Conservation said it was the worst year recorded for the common blue, holly blue, green-veined white, small white, small tortoiseshell, painted lady and Scotch argus.

From BBC

There is little diversity on the majority of the 146-acre land, with nearly all fields grazed by sheep, but there are some wetter areas and some hedgerows of blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, oak, gorse and holly.

From BBC

These could include English oak, beech, silver birch and holly trees, which they say could be vulnerable to warmer temperatures and longer dry spells.

From BBC

Rauls was planting roses and holly this week when he came across a cicada while digging.

From Seattle Times

If you are growing acid-loving plants like blueberries, heathers, hollies and rhododendrons, they will not appreciate the addition of wood ash.

From Seattle Times

More About Holly

What does holly mean?

Holly is a plant (tree or shrub) known for its bright red berries and its glossy, prickly-edged evergreen leaves. There are many varieties of holly, all of which belong to the genus Ilex.

Most people are familiar with the common varieties of decorative holly, including American holly (scientific name Ilex opaca) and English holly (Ilex aquifolium)

In many places, holly is associated with wintertime and particularly with the Christmas season. (Some varieties of holly are known as winterberry.) During this season, holly branches are popularly used in decorations such as wreaths.

Although holly plants are not especially known for their flowers (which are small and white), holly is one of the December birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone).

American holly is the state tree of Delaware.

Holly is also a given name, most traditionally a feminine one.

Example: I just love the look of a real holly wreath on the door—it’s so festive!

Where does holly come from?

The first records of the word holly in English come from before 1150. It’s related to the Old Slavonic word kolja, meaning “prick” (in reference to its prickly leaves).

Holly is found all over the world, but most varieties are native to the tropics and subtropics. Varieties of holly range from tall trees to very small shrubs.

While some birds and other wildlife are able to eat the berries from some holly plants, they are toxic to humans.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to holly?

• hollies (plural)

What are some synonyms for holly?

• winterberry

What are some words that often get used in discussing holly?

• tree
• bush
• berry
• wreath
• December
• Christmas
• mistletoe

How is holly used in real life?

Holly is popularly associated with wintertime, especially as a decoration for Christmas.

We’ve been looking 👀 at one of the huge holly trees in our grounds. 👇 Did you know that the same holly tree has different shaped leaves on different part of the tree? Prickly at the bottom and smooth at the top. Want to read more? Look @NatGeo https://t.co/tRNUjxT3yY #nature pic.twitter.com/zHBsHaBHcN

— Bullers Wood Girls Science (@BullersScience) March 29, 2021

Peter walked his hedgerows around now, looking for the best holly for making Wreathes, placing them on graves of people he cared about for Christmas, spruced up with plastic flowers from Top Ken’s in #Wirksworth. Missing a good friend but will gather a bit for Pete this year. pic.twitter.com/M8OtIeDU4a

— Kate Bellis (@KateBellis7) December 2, 2019

Happy #FloraFriday, friends! Today, we're spotlighting American holly. This native plant is known for its decorative red berries and spiny leaves. While holly is popular during the winter holidays, it holds its red fruit well into the spring — providing critical food for birds. pic.twitter.com/TK4p0Pz9CY

— NaturalAreasNYC (@NaturalAreasNYC) March 26, 2021

 

 

Try using holly!

True or False?

Holly berries are poisonous to humans.