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