understory

[uhn-der-stawr-ee, -stohr-ee]

noun

Origin of understory

First recorded in 1900–05; under- + story²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

This species was seen only in the understory of primary forest.
Birds from North Borneo
Max C. Thompson
A dense growth of coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) forms the understory just below the crest of the hill.
Natural History of the Bell Vireo, Vireo bellii Audubon
Jon C. Barlow
It seemed to prefer secondary forest that had some undergrowth and was invariably flushed from the understory.
Birds from North Borneo
Max C. Thompson
This babbler inhabits the understory of primary forest, and occasionally is seen in secondary forest scrub.
Birds from North Borneo
Max C. Thompson
Understory thickets sprang up throughout most of the woodland, and especially in edge situations.
The Forest Habitat of the University of Kansas Natural History Reservation
Henry S. Fitch

in reference to forest vegetation, also under-story, 1902, from under + story (n.).