gaspeldoorn

Dutch

Ulex europaeus

Alternative forms

(obsolete) gaspeldoren

Etymology

From a diminutive of Middle Dutch gaspe (“buckle”) +‎ doorn (“thorn”). The first element is a variant form of the same word that yielded modern gesp (“buckle”); an oft repeated theory to explain this etymology is that the thorns of this shrub were used as pins for clothing.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɣɑs.pəlˌdɔːrn/
Audio: (file)
Hyphenation: gas‧pel‧doorn

Noun

gaspeldoorn m (plural gaspeldoorns, diminutive gaspeldoorntje n)

gorse, specifically Ulex europaeus