[heath] n [ME heth, fr. OE haeth; akin to OHG heida heather, OW coit forest] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a tract of wasteland b: an extensive area of rather level open uncultivated land usu. with poor coarse soil, inferior drainage, and a surface rich in peat or peaty humus
2. a: any of a family (Ericaceae, the heath family) of shrubby dicotyledonous and often evergreen plants that thrive on open barren usu. acid and ill-drained soil; esp: an evergreen subshrub of either of two genera (Erica and Calluna) with whorls of needlelike leaves and clusters of small flowers b: any of various plants that resemble true heaths -- heath.less adj -- heath.like adj -- heathy adj