or brier, subs. (colloquial).—A brier-wood pipe.
1882. Graphic, Dec. 16, 683, 2. Nowadays, every third man you meet has a cigarette or a BRIAR in his mouth.
1886. Harper’s Magazine, 27 Dec. There is the ever-ready BRIER-root pipe, loaded with Caporal.
TO BE IN THE BRIARS, subs. phr. (old).—To be in difficulty or misfortune.
1614. Terence in English, Davus interturbat omnia. Davus brings all out of square: he marres all; he brings all INTO THE BRIARS. Ibid. Nummam perimus? Are we not in ill case? be we NOT IN THE BRIARS?
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. BRIERS, IN THE BRIERS, in trouble.
1723. History of Colonel Jack. The wonders of that merciful Providence, which, when it has mercy in store for a man, often brings him INTO THE BRIERS, into sorrow and misery for lesser sins, that men may be led to see how they are spared from the punishment due to them for the greater guilt which they know lies upon them.
