{ } n. [ OE. brere, brer, AS. brēr, brær; cf. Ir. briar prickle, thorn, brier, pin, Gael. preas bush, brier, W. prys, prysg. ] 1. A plant with a slender woody stem bearing stout prickles; especially, species of Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: Anything sharp or unpleasant to the feelings. [ 1913 Webster ]

The thorns and briers of reproof. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Brier root, the root of the southern Smilax laurifolia and Smilax Walteri; -- used for tobacco pipes. See also 2nd brier. --
Cat brier,
Green brier, several species of Smilax (Smilax rotundifolia, etc.) --
Sweet brier (Rosa rubiginosa). See Sweetbrier. --
Yellow brier, the Rosa Eglantina. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the white heath Erica arborea. RHUD. [ PJC ]

2. a smoking pipe made of the root of the brier{ 1 }. Brierroot seems to have been used formerly as a term meaning root of the Smilax laurifolia and is now defined as root of the Erica arborea. Not clear when this changed. -- PJC. [ PJC ]

a. Set with briers. Chatterton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. wood from the hard woody root of the briar Erica arborea; it is used to make tobacco pipes. See also 2nd brier and brier root.
Syn. -- briarwood. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Full of briers; thorny. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A place where briers grow. Huloet. [ 1913 Webster ]