Brash

Type

Ice, Plants, Rock, Woodland

Area of origin

UK

Area of use

International

Related terms

Cornbrash, Jackstraw, Brash-ice

Mass or accumulation of loose fragments variously applied:

  • Rubble; Loose broken rocks forming the uppermost layer under the soil. See also Cornbrash
  • Crushed fragments of ice. See also Brash-ice
  • The smaller leavings, twigs and branches from trimmed hedges or felled trees. Hence “to brash” (vb) and “to brash up” meaning “to remove the lower branches of a tree”
  • Stand of trees, often but not always coniferous, where the lower branches are dead and have fallen into a chaotic hatch. See also Jackstraw

Etymology

Perhaps a corrupt form of French brèche: “gap”, “hole” or “breach”

Example locations

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    Entry contributors:

    Nigel Atkinson