An archaic or poetic term for a briar or thorny plant, particularly wild roses or brambles; also spelled 'brer' (as in 'Brer Rabbit').
From Middle English 'brere,' related to Old English 'brær,' possibly borrowed from Celtic languages. The modern 'briar' is a variant spelling of the same word.
Joel Chandler Harris immortalized this word in African American folklore with Uncle Remus tales of 'Brer Rabbit'—the character's name itself is an archaic pronunciation that kept this medieval plant name alive in American culture.
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