osier

Etymology

Borrowed from French osier (“basket willow, withy”), from Old French osier, hosier, hosyere (compare Medieval Latin ausēria (“willow-bed”)), from Frankish *halster (compare Low German Halster, Hilster (“bay willow”)). Alternatively from Medieval Latin ausēria (“willow-bed”), from Gaulish *awesā (“riverbed”) (compare Breton aoz (“riverbed”)), from Proto-Celtic *auos (“river”), which could also be present in the French place name Avoise.

noun

1. A kind of willow, Salix viminalis, growing in wet places in Europe and Asia, and introduced into North America. It is considered the best of the willows for wickerwork.
2. (loosely) Any kind of willow.
3. One of the long, pliable twigs of this plant, or of other similar plants.
   Wattling consists of a row of upright stakes the spaces between which are more or less filled by interweaving small branches, hazel rods, osiers, reeds, thin strips of wood, or other pliant material. 1952, L.F. Salzman, Building in England, page 188