holly

¹

[ hol-ee ]

noun

, plural hol·lies.

1. any of numerous trees or shrubs of the genus Ilex, as I. opaca American holly, the state tree of Delaware, or I. aquifolium English holly, having glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries.
2. the foliage and berries, used for decoration, especially during the Christmas season.

Holly

²

[ hol-ee ]

noun

1. Buddy Charles Hardin Holley, 1936–59, U.S. rock and roll singer and guitarist.
2. a female or male given name.

holly

¹

/ ˈhɒlɪ /

noun

1. any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex, such as the Eurasian I. aquifolium, having bright red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
2. branches of any of these trees, used for Christmas decorations
3. See holm oak
   holly oak
   holly oak another name for holm oak

Holly

²

/ ˈhɒlɪ /

noun

1. HollyBuddy19361959MUSMUSIC: rock singerMUSIC: guitaristMUSIC: songwriter Buddy. real name Charles Harden Holley. 1936–59, US rock-and-roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His hits (all 1956–59) include "That'll be the Day", "Maybe Baby", "Peggy Sue", "Oh, Boy", "Think It Over", and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"

Word History and Origins

Origin of holly¹

before 1150; Middle English holi ( e ), holyn, Old English hole ( g ) n; cognate with Welsh celyn, Irish cuillean; akin to Dutch, German hulst, French houx (< Old High German hulis )

Word History and Origins

Origin of holly¹

Old English holegn; related to Old Norse hulfr, Old High German hulis, German Hulst, Old Slavonic kolja prick

Example Sentences

Deck your halls instead with boughs of holly, shouting “Merry Christmas” (or “Happy Hanukkah”) well into the night.

From The Daily Beast

From the religious (‘The Holly and the Ivy’) to the secular (‘The Chipmunk Song’), my top 20.

From The Daily Beast

Something tells me Holly Golightly would have thoroughly approved.

From The Daily Beast

One day they were trying things out and started playing old Buddy Holly songs.

From The Daily Beast

So the Beatles had recorded that Buddy Holly song many times?

From The Daily Beast

As they brush the holly-leaves, in passing, the very sprays that touch the dresses of the scared girls are stirring.

From Project Gutenberg

It appeared that the fact of her having been the landlady of the Holly Sprig made no difference in his case.

From Project Gutenberg

In the twining of English holly and Western pine upon the great English novelist's grave the poet expresses a happy thought.

From Project Gutenberg

Jacques Bastien threw his holly stick in a corner, kept on his blouse, and followed his wife and the bailiff to the dining-room.

From Project Gutenberg

Its wild thyme will remain only in patches on its Trwyn, and its sandhills will be glaucous with the blue sea-holly no more.

From Project Gutenberg