Brī'er, n.

n. [O. Eng. brere, breere, A-S. brēr, brēr, Ir. briar, prickle, thorn, brier, pin, Gael. preas, bush, brier, W. prys, prysg.] [Written also briar.] 1. A prickly plant or shrub. Save when aloft the subtle sunbeams shine On withered briers that o'er the crag recline. Wordsworth. 2. (Bot.) The sweet-brier and the wild-brier, species of the rose.