Hol"ly (?), adv. Wholly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Hol"ly (hl"l), n. [OE holi, holin, AS. holen, holegn; akin to D. & G.
hulst, OHG. huls hulis, W. celyn, Armor. kelen, Gael. cuilionn, Ir.
cuileann. Cf. 1st Holm, Hulver.] 1. (Bot.) A tree or shrub of the genus
Ilex. The European species (Ilex Aquifolium) is best known, having
glossy green leaves, with a spiny, waved edge, and bearing berries that
turn red or yellow about Michaelmas.
The holly is much used to adorn churches and houses, at Christmas time,
and hence is associated with scenes of good will and rejoicing. It is
an evergreen tree, and has a finegrained, heavy, white wood. Its bark
is used as a febrifuge, and the berries are violently purgative and
emetic. The American holly is the Ilex opaca, and is found along the
coast of the United States, from Maine southward. Gray.