osier

American  

[oh-zher] / ˈoʊ ʒər /

noun

1. any of various willows, as the red osier, having tough, flexible twigs or branches that are used for wickerwork.

2. a twig from such a willow.

3. any of various North American dogwoods.

---

osier British  

/ ˈəʊzɪə /

noun

1. any of various willow trees, esp Salix viminalis, whose flexible branches or twigs are used for making baskets, etc

2. a twig or branch from such a tree

3. any of several North American dogwoods, esp the red osier

---

Other Word Forms

• osiered adjective
• osierlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of osier

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French; akin to Medieval Latin ausāria willow bed

Example Sentences

Many look for nectar on dandelion, rabbitbrush, Canada thistle, osier dogwood and chokecherry.

From Seattle Times

Flames seized the osier cages; billows of foul smoke rose skyward.

From Literature

"Women and children strip the osiers in a brake and bundle them into wads getting four pence a wad," he wrote knowledgeably.

From BBC

Today salmonberry and snowberry, cedars, Sitka spruce and red osier dogwood, even skunk cabbage create a densely vegetated red cedar swamp worthy of Sasquatch.

From Seattle Times

They’ve planted western red cedar and willows and watched as other native plants took root in the shade — red osier dogwood, salmonberry, ferns and vine maple.

From Seattle Times