osier

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: o=si=er

CIDE DICTIONARY

osier, n. [F. osier: cf. Prov. F. oisis, Armor. ozil, aozil, Gr. , , , L. vitex, and E. withy.].

 A kind of willow (Salix viminalis) growing in wet places in Europe and Asia, and introduced into North America. It is considered the best of the willows for basket work. The name is sometimes given to any kind of willow.  [1913 Webster]
"The rank of osiers by the murmuring stream."  [1913 Webster]

Osier bed, or Osier holt, a place where willows are grown for basket making. [Eng.] -- Red osier. (a) A kind of willow with reddish twigs (Salix rubra). (b) An American shrub (Cornus stolonifera) which has slender red branches; -- also called osier cornel.

osier, a. 

 Made of osiers; composed of, or containing, osiers.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

osier, n.
1 any of various willows, esp. Salix viminalis, with long flexible shoots used in basketwork.
2 a shoot of a willow.

Idiom

osier-bed a place where osiers are grown.

Etymology

ME f. OF: cf. med.L auseria osier-bed