broussaille

scrubland, undergrowth

noun broo-SAH-yuh Rare

Origin: From Old French brosse (brushwood).

Usage Note

Broussaille is typically used in the plural (les broussailles) to refer to tangled, thorny undergrowth or scrubby vegetation, often in uncultivated or wild terrain. Figuratively, en broussaille describes something dishevelled or bushy, especially eyebrows (des sourcils en broussaille). The adjective broussailleux means scrubby or overgrown.

Examples

"Le sentier est envahi par les broussailles."

Natural Translation

The path is overgrown with scrubland.

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