Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Holly
Hol′ly
(hōl′ly̆)
, adv.
Wholly.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
Hol′ly
(hŏl′ly̆)
, Noun.
1.
(Bot.)
A tree or shrub of the genus
Ilex
. The European species (Ilex Aquifolium
) is best known, having glossy green leaves, with a spiny, waved edge, and bearing berries that turn red or yellow about Michaelmas. ☞ The holly is much used to adorn churches and houses, at Christmas time, and hence is associated with scenes of good will and rejoicing. It is an evergreen tree, and has a finegrained, heavy, white wood. Its bark is used as a febrifuge, and the berries are violently purgative and emetic. The American holly is the
Ilex opaca
, and is found along the coast of the United States, from Maine southward. Gray.
Webster 1828 Edition
Holly
HOL'LY
,Noun.
The holm tree, of the genus Ilex, of several species. The common holly grows from 20 to 30 feet high; the stem by age becomes large, and is covered with a grayish smooth bark, and set with branches which form a sort of cone. The leaves are oblong oval, of a lucid green on the upper surface,but pale on the under surface; the edges are indented and waved, with sharp thorns terminating each of the points. The flowers grow in clusters and are succeeded by roundish berries, which turn to a beautiful red about Michaelmas. This tree is a beautiful evergreen.
Knee-Holly, a plant, the butcher's broom, of the genus Ruscus.
Sea-Holly, a plant, of the genus Eryngium.
Definition 2024
Holly
Holly
English
Alternative forms
Proper noun
Holly
- A female given name.
- 1929 Joyce Lankester Brisley: More of Milly-Molly-Mandy. Chapter 8:
- Grandma said, "I used to know a little girl called Holly - she always had her dresses trimmed with red or green." Milly-Molly-Mandy thought that was quite a nice name.
- 2006 Joyce Winters: Let Your Light Shine ISBN 160034593X page 209:
- "Holly, would you mind if I named my little girl 'Holly'? I mean, it's right around Christmas time, and I always think of holly with Christmas.
- 1929 Joyce Lankester Brisley: More of Milly-Molly-Mandy. Chapter 8:
- A topographic surname.
- A male given name
holly
holly
English
leaves and berries of European Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Noun
holly (plural hollies)
- Any of various shrubs or (mostly) small trees, of the genus Ilex, either evergreen or deciduous, used as decoration especially at Christmas.
- The wood from this tree.
- (with a qualifier) Any of several unrelated plant species likened to Ilex because of their prickly, evergreen foliage and/or round, bright-red berries
Derived terms
Terms derived from holly
Translations
any of various shrubs or small trees of the genus Ilex
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