heather

Etymology

From Middle English hather, hathir, from Old English *hǣddre and hǣþ (“heather”), cognate with Scots hedder, hadder, heddir (“heather”), Saterland Frisian Heede (“heather”), West Frisian heide (“heather”), Dutch heide (“heather”), German Low German Heide, Heid (“heather”), German Heide (“heather”).

noun

1. An evergreen plant, Calluna vulgaris, with spiky leaves and small purple, pink, or white flowers.
   The cutting sides were gay with heather in bloom, and masses of dainty Scots bluebells, while patches of clear sky overhead were bringing life and colour to the sea. 1947 January and February, O. S. Nock, “"The Aberdonian" in Wartime”, in Railway Magazine, page 9
2. A plant in the family Ericaceae.
3. Various species of the genus Erica.
4. Various species of the genus Cassiope.
5. A purple colour with a tint of pink and blue.
   heather:
6. (textiles) The use of interwoven yarns of mixed colours to produce flecks.

adj

1. Of a purple colour with a tint of pink and blue.