shrub
UK[ʃrʌb]US[ʃrʌb]
n
A woody plant which is smaller than a tree and has several stems arising at or near the ground.
Etymology
The word 'shrub' originates from Old English 'scrybb', a term for brushwood or a tract of land covered in undergrowth. It is related to other Germanic words like the Old Norse 'skroppa', meaning a dwarf shrub, and the Danish 'skrub', denoting stunted vegetation. The core concept has consistently pointed to low, woody, and often dense plant life. Over time, the meaning narrowed from the general landscape feature to specifically denote the individual plant itself, solidifying its modern botanical sense.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form. It is derived from the Old English word 'scrybb' or 'scrubb', which referred to brushwood or a shrubbery.
Examples
The garden was bordered by a dense shrub of lavender and rosemary.
We planted a flowering shrub beneath the living room window.
The property line was marked by an overgrown hedge of thorny shrubs.