copse
copse Lexical Profile
copse Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small, dense group of trees, bushes, or undergrowth growing closely together, often managed by periodic cutting.
"The deer vanished into a small copse of birch trees at the edge of the meadow."
• verb
To cut back trees or shrubs to ground level periodically to stimulate the growth of new shoots.
"The forester decided to copse the hazel trees in late winter to encourage fresh growth for fencing material."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'copse' with the homophone 'cops' (informal for police officers) or the similar-sounding 'corpse' (a dead body).
• Rhymes for copse
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Dating back to the late 16th century, 'copse' is a shortened form of 'coppice', which comes from the Old French 'copeiz' (a wood periodically cut for timber), ultimately rooted in the Late Latin 'colpus' meaning 'a blow or strike'.