holly English · revision 15365

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 958|origins=ine-pro *kel-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhɒli/ ''(UK)''; /ˈhɑli/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|holi]], a reduced form of earlier holin,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(Hoad 1986) [[inh|ang|holegn|t=holly]] (also [[m|ang|holen]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*hulin-]],^(Etymonline) cognate with [[osx|hulis]], [[goh|hulis]], [[dum|huls]] and [[nl|hulst]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is also related to [[mga|cuilenn]] and [[cy|celyn]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) probably all from [[ine-pro|*kel-|t=to prick]], from the spiny leaves.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) [[fr|houx]] is from a Germanic source.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English Holegn about 958, in a place name, and holen about 1000;^(Barnhart 1988) Middle English holin before 1200, and holy in 1440, in the ''Promptorium Parvulorum''.^(Barnhart 1988) The OED's first quotation for the plant is from about 1150.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The evergreen with bright red berries is used especially for Christmas decoration.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) The name was extended to other prickly-leaved shrubs from 1846.^(OED 1989) At Tenby, holly-beating was an old custom on St Stephen's Day.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 958 – Holegn, in a place name.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1150 – holly, the plant.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1440 – holy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1846 – other similar plants.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A tree or shrub of the genus ''Ilex'', with glossy, spiny [[evergreen]] leaves and bright red [[berry|alt=berries]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Branches of holly, used as [[Christmas]] decoration.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any of various similar plants, as [[sea holly]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Japanese holly]]

+ * [[sea holly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[holm oak]]

+ * [[ilex]]

+ * [[mistletoe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}