gorse
gorse Lexical Profile
gorse Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A densely branched, spiny evergreen shrub of the genus Ulex in the pea family Fabaceae, native to western Europe and northern Africa, noted for bearing abundant, fragrant, bright yellow pea-like flowers across heathlands and coastal cliffs.
"The rugged coastal hills were ablaze with the golden blossoms of wild gorse in the early spring."
Any of various other thorny, yellow-flowered leguminous shrubs resembling true gorse, especially members of the related genera Genista and Cytisus.
"Dense thickets of gorse and heather provided shelter for ground-nesting birds on the moor."
• Rhymes for gorse
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English gorst, meaning 'gorse' or 'bramble', ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ghers-, meaning 'to bristle' or 'to stand out'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.