osier

IPA/ˈəʊziə(r)/
IPA/ˈəʊʒər/

osier — noun

1. a willow grown for its long, springy shoots, which people often cut to weave bas

1.nounC2
Definition

a willow grown for its long, springy shoots, which people often cut to weave baskets

Example

Yuna planted an osier beside the stream behind her house.

pattern: plant an osier beside water

A line of osiers grew along the wet edge of the field.

Common collocations
  • plant an osier
  • young osiers
  • osiers by the river
  • cut osiers
  • osier bed
Synonyms
  • willow

    the broad everyday word for this tree family, without stressing basket use

  • basket willow

    a clear descriptive term that highlights the tree's practical use

  • sallow

    a more botanical or regional term for some willow varieties

Grammar Patterns

an osier

osiers

Usage Note

This sense names the living tree or shrub itself. It is most often used when speakers want to stress that the willow is grown for its flexible shoots.

Common Mistakes

We planted three osier in the wet field.
We planted three osiers in the wet field.
In this sense, 'osier' is a countable noun, so use the plural form for more than one tree.

2. a thin, flexible branch cut from this kind of willow, especially one used for we

2.nounC2
Definition

a thin, flexible branch cut from this kind of willow, especially one used for weaving baskets or making light furniture

Example

Felipe bent a fresh osier into a round handle for the basket.

pattern: bend an osier into a shape

The chair repairer tied the broken seat with thin osiers.

Common collocations
  • fresh osier
  • thin osiers
  • strip an osier
  • bend an osier
  • bundles of osiers
Synonyms
  • willow rod

    a straightforward descriptive term for the cut branch

  • withe

    an older word for a flexible branch used for tying or weaving

  • switch

    can mean a thin flexible stick, but it is broader and not limited to willow

Grammar Patterns

an osier

osiers

Usage Note

Use this sense for a cut branch being handled as material. If you are talking about the plant still growing in the ground, use sense 1 instead.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Willow' is the broad everyday word for the whole tree family. 'Osier' is narrower: it usually points to a willow grown for its long, bendable shoots, or to those shoots after they are cut for weaving. 'Basket willow' is a clear descriptive term when a gardener or craft worker wants to stress that practical use. In ordinary conversation, most people simply say 'willow'. Use 'osier' when the flexibility of the branches matters, especially in gardening, basket-making, and traditional craft contexts.

osier ↗willow ↗basket willow ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • osier basket
  • osier bed
  • bundle of osiers

Etymology

Old FrenchAnglo-FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

English 'osier' came through Anglo-French and Old French from a word for a willow used in weaving. The word has long been linked with basket-making, which is why modern English can refer both to the tree and to one of its cut rods.