bridal wreathn.
/ˈbrʌɪdl riːθ/, U.S. /ˈbraɪd(ə)l ˌriθ/ 1. A garland or chaplet of flowers worn by a bride, esp. one that holds a veil in place.
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society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > wedding or nuptials > equipment or accessories of wedding > [noun] > wedding garment(s)
bride clothesc1384
wedding-gown1439
spousing gown1495
wedding-garment1526
wedding-robe1530
wedding-suit1594
wedding smock1616
wedding-clothes1678
wedding trima1729
bridal gown1734
marriage dress1771
bridal wreath1785
wedding-dress1801
wedding-coat1838
bridalwear1850
1785 Universal Mag. June 328/2 In happy time shalt thou reward his cares, Who for thy brow the bridal wreath prepares.
1862 John Bull 19 July 461/2 The Princess Alice, on the day of her marriage, presented her mother with a very beautiful crayon drawing of herself in her bridal wreath.
1926 Daily Mail 20 Sept. 15/4 An exquisite bridal wreath was composed of orange blossoms made of seed pearls and tiny diamonds.
2017 Irish News (Nexis) 2 May 19 I have a drawerful of wedding photographs the earliest of which is 1926. Here's my mother in a gold satin flapper dress, a bridal wreath rammed down over her eyebrows.
2.
a. Any of several shrubs of the genus Spiraea (family Rosaceae) having clusters of white flowers and often cultivated as garden plants; esp. S. prunifolia. Also more fully bridal wreath spiraea. Cf. bridewort n. at bride n.1 Compounds 1b.
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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > spiraea shrubs > [noun]
spiraea1666
spirey1714
hardhack1814
meadowsweet1814
bridal wreath1856
steeple-bush1859
feather-fern1882
pearl bush1882
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > non-British shrubs > [noun] > American or West Indian
ramgoat bush1566
burton-wood1697
cowage cherry1725
Jack-in-the-busha1726
screw tree1739
lady of the night1752
goatweed1756
solandra1797
silk-tassel1833
garrya1835
matico1839
choisya1840
Romneya1845
jointer1847
creosote-bush1851
creosote-plant1854
bridal wreath1856
ocotillo1856
adelaster1863
sage rose1864
white horse1864
tree poppy1866
Tacsonia1869
rain tree1877
piquillin bush1884
tassel-bush1891
bush poppy1899
Mexican orange1923
shrimp plant1941
1856 Genesee (Rochester, N.Y.) Farmer June 192/1 The Bridal Wreath Spirea—Spirea prunifolia flora pleno, or double-flowering, prune-leaved spirea. This splendid little shrub was introduced into England from China, in 1846, and has since been pretty generally circulated.
1917 Garden Mag. Feb. 25/3 The old favorite Bridal Wreath (Spiraea prunifolia) with its garlands of tiny snowy rosettes.
1961 F. Perry Shrubs & Trees for Smaller Garden v. 139 Spiraea x arguta, Bridal Wreath. The most widely grown species, with very slender twigs festooned with dainty white flowers.
2001 Church Times 19 Jan. 11/1 Early flowering shrubs... Spiraea arguta (bridal wreath) and forsythia are among the most successful for forcing.
b. Any of several Chilean shrubs of the genus Francoa (family Francoaceae) having racemes of pink or white flowers and often cultivated as garden plants. Cf. maiden's wreath n. at maiden n. and adj. Compounds 1c.
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1881 Garden 9 Apr. 387/1 The plant commonly known as the Bridal Wreath..is the white-flowered Francoa (Francoa ramosa).
1907 Jrnl. Hort. & Home Farmer 29 Aug. 208/2 Mr. Barnes's mixture of Bridal Wreath (Francoa) and a golden Montbretia..was charming.
1962 Amateur Gardening 27 Jan. 23/1 The plant known as Bridal Wreath is Francoa ramosa and comes from Chile. It produces long sprays of white flowers in July and August.
2004 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 8 May (Gardening section) 6 I planted some bridal wreath, Francoa sonchifolia,..and am delighted to see that they are thriving.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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