firse

Middle English

Alternative forms

• fyrs, furs, ferse, forse, fyrrys, vors, virs

Etymology

From Old English fyrs, fyres, of unknown origin, but compare fyr (“fire”) and Proto-Slavic *pyrь (“couch grass”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfirz/, /ˈfurz/, /ˈfɛrz/

Noun

firse (plural firses or firsen)

1. Furze or gorse (Ulex europaeus)
   • a. 1382, John Wycliffe, “Isaiah 55:13”, in Wycliffe's Bible:

     A fir tre ſchal grow for a firse, and a mirte tre ſchal wexe for a nettil; and the Lord ſchal be nemyd in to a ſigne euerlaſtynge, that ſchal not be doon awei.

     A fir tree will grow instead of gorse, and a myrtle will grow instead of a nettle, and the Lord will be named for this everlasting sign that won't be done away with.

2. (rare) Clumps of furze for use in fires.

Descendants

• English: furze

References

• “firs(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-1-7.