See Also: osier(medicine)
osier(dictionary)
osier(dictionary)

osier (iou)



osier noun & adjective. ME.
[Old & mod. French, masc. form corresp. to fem. (dial.) osiere from medieval Latin auseria, which has been referred to a Gaulish word for 'river-bed'.]
A. noun. (A shoot of) any of several willows with tough pliant branches used in basketwork, esp. Salix viminalis, which has long narrow leaves silky on the underside. ME.
purple osier: see PURPLE adjective. red osier: see RED adjective.
Comb.: osier-bed an area of land where osiers are grown, esp. for basket-making.
b. attrib. or as adjective. Of, pertaining to, or made of osiers. L16.
osiered adjective covered or planted with osiers; twisted like osiers: E16.
osiery noun (a) a place where osiers are grown; a thicket or plantation of osiers; (b) (articles made of) osier branches: M18.