brushwood

American  

[bruhsh-wood] / ˈbrʌʃˌwʊd /

noun

1. the wood of branches that have been cut or broken off.

2. a pile or covering of such branches.

3. a growth or thicket of densely growing small trees and shrubs.

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brushwood British  

/ ˈbrʌʃˌwʊd /

noun

1. cut or broken-off tree branches, twigs, etc

2. another word for brush 2

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Etymology

Origin of brushwood

First recorded in 1630–40; brush ² + wood ¹

Example Sentences

Also of great interest was the cushioning layer of brushwood found between thin planks of the sunken ship’s hull.

From Literature

She deftly manoeuvres a tractor-load of brushwood which she's spent the afternoon cutting from common land owned jointly by the community.

From BBC

Las Provincias, a regional newspaper, reported police believe that the blaze may have been started by a spark from a machine used to gather brushwood.

From Reuters

Twigs of brushwood lie around a mud oven used for cooking.

From New York Times

Readers today are unlikely to confuse an adolescent with an armload of brushwood used for fences and hedges.

From The New Yorker

Related Words

• scrub
• thicket