Definition of bramble

The word "bramble" originated from the Middle English word "braunel," which itself derived from the Old English word "brōsel." At its core, the word describes a plant with spiny branches, whose scientific name is Rubus fruticosus. The name "bramble" has its roots in the Middle Ages when the plant was often referred to as "bremel" or "bremelnde" in Old German, meaning "fire-thorn." The name may have arisen from the plant's habit of growing in wildland areas and being a potential threat to livestock, which could get caught in its thorns. As the language evolved, the spelling became "bramel" in Middle English before finally being shortened to "bramble" in Late Middle English. The term "bramble" is still used today to describe the ''blackberry'' plant, which causes a prey-like feeding frenzy in animals when its brilliant red and black berry colors appear in fall. In modern English, the word "bramble" has expanded to describe not just the plant but also any tangled and unruly mass of things—similar to the prickly and difficult-to-navigate nature of the plant.