whin

Everyday

1. Another name for gorse: a prickly bush with bright yellow flowers that grows on heaths and hills, mostly in Britain and Ireland. tree →
2. (also whinstone) Any very hard dark rock, such as basalt, used in Scotland and northern England for roads and walls. tree →

In the lessons

A rare, regional word found in older books, place names and countryside stories in Scotland, northern England and Ireland. In nature lessons you will meet the same plant called gorse or furze. Phrases: whin bushes, whinstone.

Examples

• The hillside was golden with whin. tree →
• Sheep sheltered among the whins. tree →
• Gorse is also called whin or furze. tree →
• The old wall was built of whinstone. tree →
• Careful, the whin bushes are very prickly. tree →
• Rabbits hide under the whin. tree →

Note

Rare and regional. Do not confuse it with "whine" (a long high complaining sound) or "win". It can be uncountable (a hill covered in whin) or countable (whins = whin bushes).