holly

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English[edit]

leaves and berries of European holly (Ilex aquifolium)

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English holly, holi, holie, a shortened variation of holin, holyn (> English dialectal hollen, holm), from Old English holeġn, holen (holly; prince, protector), from Proto-West Germanic *hulis (holly), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₂- (to beat, break).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈhɒli/
  • Rhymes: -ɒli
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈhɑli/
  • (file)

Noun[edit]

holly (countable and uncountable, plural hollies)

  1. Any of various shrubs or (mostly) small trees, of the genus Ilex, either evergreen or deciduous, used as decoration especially at Christmas.
  2. The wood from this tree.
  3. (with a qualifier) Any of several not closely related plant species likened to Ilex because of their prickly, evergreen foliage and/or round, bright-red berries

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Middle English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Adjective[edit]

holly

  1. Alternative form of holy (sacred)

Etymology 2[edit]

Adjective[edit]

holly

  1. Alternative form of holy (porous)

Yola[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English holly, from Old English hāliġ, from Proto-West Germanic *hailag.

Adjective[edit]

holly

  1. holy
    • 1867, GLOSSARY OF THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY:
      Hollydie.
      Holiday.

Derived terms[edit]

References[edit]

  • Jacob Poole (1867), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, page 47