Etymology From Middle English brere, from Old English brēr [Old Mercian], brǣr (“briar, bramble”); further origin unknown, perhaps related to Old French bruiere (“heather”) (French bruyère). Compare Old Norse brǫrr (“briar”), whence Icelandic brörr.
1
Any of many plants with thorny stems growing in dense clusters, such as many in the Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax genera.
Youngthes folke now flocken in every where, To gather May-buskets and smelling brere1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “Maye. Ægloga Quinta.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Hugh Singleton, […], →OCLC:
2
Figuratively Anything that is sharp or unpleasant to the feelings.
¶ And thou ſonne of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their wordes, though bryars and thornes be with thee, and thou doeſt dwell among ſcorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be diſmayed at their lookes, though they be a rebellious houſe.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ezekiel 2:6:
Rov'd far, and gather'd much : some harsh, 't is true, / Pick'd from the thorns and briers of reproof, / But wholesome, well-digested;[…]1785, William Cowper, The Task^(https://books.google.co.in/books?id=HqtbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA168&dq=The+thorns+and+briers+of+reproof.+(Cowper)&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiSlr2ewLXkAhUOcCsKHWbMBSgQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=The%20thorns%20and%20briers%20of%20reproof.%20(Cowper)&f=false):
Etymology From French bruyère, assimilated with Etymology 1, above.
1
Tree heath (Erica arborea), a thorny Mediterranean shrub.
2
A pipe for smoking, made from the roots of that shrub.
Then he put the insulted pipe in his pocket, corked himself up with the immense briar, and sneered at Cripps over the top of it.1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 12: