heath Hear it!

heath Definition

heath (hēt̸h)

noun

  1. a tract of open wasteland, esp. in the British Isles, covered with heather, low shrubs, etc.; moor
  2. any plant of the heath family; esp., any of various shrubs and plants (genera Erica and Calluna) that grow on heaths, as heather

Etymology: ME hethe < OE hæth, akin to Ger heide, wasteland, heath < IE base *kaito-, forested or uncultivated land > Welsh coed, forest

adjective

designating a family (Ericaceae, order Ericales) of dicotyledonous woody shrubs and small trees, including the blueberry, mountain laurel, and rhododendrons

heath Idioms

one's native heath

the place of one's birth or childhood

Heath Definition

Heath (hēt̸h)

Heath, Edward (Richard George) 1916-2005; Eng. politician: prime minister (1970-74)

heath Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • restore: The HCS has come a long way, but much still needs to be done to restore the heath and protect it from damage.
  • cross: But in many parts of England, wherever a path crosses a heath, its surface becomes covered with a fine short sward.

Adjective modifier

  • cross-leaved: There are pockets of heathland which support cross-leaved heath & dwarf gorse.
  • Boreal: There are widespread transitions to wet heath, woodland, juniper scrub and 4060 Alpine and Boreal heaths.
  • lowland: There are at least 2 distinct types of lowland heath.
  • upland: Upland heath is also a UK BAP priority habitat.
  • Lowland: Lowland heath includes heath below the 240 m contour.
  • wet: Thus wet heaths normally support many more species than dry heaths.

Modifies a noun

  • bedstraw: Wet patches are dominated by heath rush and here heath bedstraw is likely to be the only common herb.
  • fritillary: BBC Rare heath fritillary butterfly reintroduced into the wild One of Britain's most endangered butterflies is being reintroduced in the Westcountry.
  • butterfly: Large heath butterfly Large heath butterflies live in boggy areas.
  • vegetation: Today, this dry raised fan of material supports a rich heath vegetation dominated by bell heather which is home to the Red Grouse.
  • rush: Wet slopes have purple moor grass and the wettest areas support heath rush.
  • habitat: Areas of wet heath habitat survive on the London clay.

Noun used with modifier

  • myrtillus: H20 Vaccinium myrtillus Racomitrium lanuginosum heath is also extensive, taking the habitat type up to its highest altitude in the UK.
  • arbuscula: The main NVC type present is H19 Vaccinium myrtillus Cladonia arbuscula heath, a very local type south of Scotland.
  • lanuginosum: H20 Vaccinium myrtillus Racomitrium lanuginosum heath is also extensive, taking the habitat type up to its highest altitude in the UK.
  • dwarf-shrub: Other globally threatened habitats can also be found such as near-natural dwarf-shrub heaths, moss-heath and grasslands.
  • racomitrium: Racomitrium moss heath has declined south of the Scottish Highlands during the last 50 years.
  • dwarf: Open, semi-natural habitats with dwarf shrub heaths are moorland.
heath Quotes

Speak out, sir, and do not Maister or Campbell meömy foot is on my native heath, and my name is MacGregor!

—Scott, Sir Walter

O Caledonia! stern and wild, Meet nurse for a poetic child! Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, Land of the mountain and the flood. Land of my sires! what mortal hand Can e'er untie the filial band That knits me to thy rugged strand!

—Scott, Sir Walter

   There's night and day, brother, both sweet things; sun, moon, and stars, brother, all sweet things: there's likewise a wind on the heath. Life is very sweet, brother; who would wish to die?

—Borrow, George Henry

I lingered around them, under the benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers, for the sleepers in that quiet earth.

—Bronte«  , EmilyJane