heather
English
/ˈhɛðɚ/, /ˈhɛðə/
noun
Definitions
- (botany) An evergreen plant, Calluna vulgaris, with spiky leaves and small purple, pink, or white flowers.
- (botany) The Ericaceae family.
- (botany) Various species of the genus Erica.
- (botany) Various species of the genus Cassiope.
- A purple colour with a tint of pink and blue.
- (textiles) The use of interwoven yarns of mixed colours to produce flecks.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English hather inherited from Old English *hǣddre.
Origin
Old English
*hǣddre
Gloss
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- heathered English
- heatherless English
- heatherlike English
- heathery English
- Heide German
- Heidekraut German
- Heidelbeere German
- Heidelerche German
- Heidenangst German
- Heidengeld German
- Heidenlärm German
- Heidentum German
- Heiderauch German
- dopheide Dutch, Flemish
- heide Dutch, Flemish
- heideblauwtje Dutch, Flemish
- *hǣddre Old English
- hader Middle English
- hather Middle English
- heide Middle Dutch
- heide Middle High German
- *hēthe Old Frisian
- Heede Saterland Frisian
- Heedelound Saterland Frisian