Gorse - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Gorse : (noun)

1: very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe [syn: furze, whin, Irish gorse, Ulex europaeus]

Based on WordNet 2.0

Furze \Furze\, n. [OE. firs, As. fyrs.] (Bot.) A thorny evergreen shrub ({Ulex Europ[ae]us), with beautiful yellow flowers, very common upon the plains and hills of Great Britain; -- called also gorse, and whin. The dwarf furze is Ulex nanus.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Gorse : \Gorse\, n. [OE. & AS. gorst; perh. akin to E. grow, grass.] (Bot.) Furze. See Furze.

The common, overgrown with fern, and rough With prickly gorse. --Cowper.

Gorse bird (Zo["o]l.), the European linnet; -- called also gorse hatcher. [Prov. Eng.]

Gorse chat (Zo["o]l.), the winchat.

Gorse duck, the corncrake; -- called also grass drake, land drake, and corn drake.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)