[Formerly bruyer, a. F. bruyère heath, erroneously identified with the prec. word.] The White Heath (Erica arborea), a native of the south of France, Corsica, etc., the root of which is extensively used for making tobacco-pipes (introduced into England about 1859); also a pipe of this wood. So Brier-root, brier-wood; brier-wooder (nonce-wd.), a smoker of a brier pipe.
1868. Tobacco Trade Rev., Feb., 8 (Advt.). Health pipe: in Bruyer Wood. Ibid., Ap. 11. Joseph Izod, Importer of Meerschaum and Bruyer Pipes. Ibid. Brier Wood, Lava, Clay, and China Pipes. Ibid. (1869), Jan., 9. Briar Pipes. Ibid., Mch. 13. The substances used are meerschaum … briar-root.
1884. Miller, Plant-n., Briar Root of which Pipes are made. Erica arborea.
1886. G. H. Boughton, in Harper’s Mag., Dec., 27/1. There is the ever-ready brier-root pipe loaded with Caporal, and it is a poor fellow who is afraid to fight back reek for reek.
1886. Tinsley’s Mag., July, 53. Yet I hope he is not vulgarer than the briar-wooders.
Mod. Do you really prefer a brier to a meerschaum?
