bramble

American  

[bram-buhl] / ˈbræm bəl /

noun

1. any prickly shrub belonging to the genus Rubus, of the rose family.

2. British. the common blackberry.

3. any rough, prickly shrub, as the dog rose.

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verb (used without object)

brambled, brambling

1. British. to look for and gather wild blackberries; pick blackberries from the vine.

bramble British  

/ ˈbræmbəl /

noun

1. any of various prickly herbaceous plants or shrubs of the rosaceous genus Rubus , esp the blackberry See also stone bramble

2. 1. a blackberry

   2. ( as modifier )

      bramble jelly

3. any of several similar and related shrubs

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verb

1. to gather blackberries

Other Word Forms

• brambly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of bramble

before 1000; Middle English; Old English bræmbel, variant of brǣmel, equivalent to brǣm- (cognate with Dutch braam broom ) + -el noun suffix

Explanation

A bramble is a bush or plant that's covered in thorns. You'll want to wear long pants if you're going to trek through the brambles looking for your lost cat. Those rough, prickly shrubs that grow along the fence and in which you're always losing your Frisbee? You can call them brambles. This word is most common in Britain, where it sometimes refers specifically to blackberry bushes. In fact, some Britons even call blackberries themselves "brambleberries." The Old English root is bræmbel.

Example Sentences

Ms Bramble said a multi-agency meeting would take place to discuss the next steps.

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2024

Russ Stone, a defense attorney for one of the five deputies, Dwayne Bramble, said Mann could elect to pursue the charges again.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2024

Rush’s film career also included roles in “The Young Lions,” “The Bramble Bush,” “Strangers When We Meet” — where she shared the screen with fellow classic Hollywood stars Kirk Douglas and Kim Novak.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2024

Haddow says he approached Bramble while working on behalf of a client, US Biologic, a loosely affiliated group of Utah companies and clinics.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 31, 2024

Miss Kuckenbacker’s pupils have informed the editor that the mouse exhibited in her classroom was not captured as reported but was instead a pet of Ryan Bramble, a member of the class.’”

From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary