heather

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) An evergreen plant, Calluna vulgaris, with spiky leaves and small purple, pink, or white flowers.
2. (countable, uncountable) A plant in the family Ericaceae.
3. (countable, uncountable) Various species of the genus Erica.
4. (countable, uncountable) Various species of the genus Cassiope.
5. (countable, uncountable) A purple colour with a tint of pink and blue.
6. (countable, uncountable) The use of interwoven yarns of mixed colours to produce flecks.

Adj

Of a purple colour with a tint of pink and blue.

Synonyms

ling

heath

Scots heather

broom

🧹

heather mixture

Calluna vulgaris

common heather

moor

briar

brier

grass tree

grig

Translations

erica

Heidekraut

bruyère

brezo

Besenheide

heide

bruc

Erika

brugo

dophei

urze

Heide

dopheide

struikhei

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhɛðɚ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: hather

Inherited from Old English: *hǣddre

Cognate with Scots: hedder

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Heede

Cognate with Western Frisian: heide

Cognate with Dutch: heide

Cognate with German: Heide

In summary

From Middle English hather, hathir, from Old English *hǣddre and hǣþ (“heather”), cognate with Scots hedder, hadder, heddir (“heather”), Saterland Frisian Heede (“heather”), West Frisian heide (“heather”), Dutch heide (“heather”), German Low German Heide, Heid (“heather”), German Heide (“heather”).