See Also: Holly(medicine)
Sea holly(medicine)
holly(dictionary)
Holly and the Ivy, The(dictionary)
holly(dictionary)
holly(encyclopedia)
Holly, Buddy(dictionary)
Holly, Buddy(encyclopedia)
Compton, Arthur (Holly)(encyclopedia)
Holly Hill Hospital(health)

holly (iou)



holly noun. ['holi] ME.

Any of several evergreen shrubs or small trees of the genus Ilex (family Aquifoliaceae); esp. one of the common European species I. aquifolium, with tough dark green glossy leaves with indented edges usu. set with sharp stiff prickles at the points, and bearing small white flowers succeeded by red berries, much used for Christmas decoration. Also, the American holly, I. opaca, a similar tree of the US. Also holly bush, holly tree. ME.
Any of various plants resembling the holly in some way, esp. in having prickly leaves. Usu. with specifying word. ME.
knee-holly: see KNEE noun. sea holly: see SEA noun.
Comb.: holly blue a butterfly, Celastrina argiolus, whose caterpillars feed in spring on buds etc. of holly (the late summer brood feeding on ivy); holly fern a mountain fern, Polystichum lonchitis, having stiff glossy fronds with spine-tipped teeth; holly-oak = holm-oak s.v. HOLM noun2 2.