[hol.ly] n, pl hollies [ME holin, holly, fr. OE holen; akin to OHG hulis holly, MIr cuilenn] (bef. 12c) 1: any of a genus (Ilex of the family Aquifoliaceae, the holly family) of trees and shrubs; esp: either of two (I. opaca of the eastern U.S. and I. aquifolium of Eurasia) with spiny-margined evergreen leaves and usu. red berries often used for Christmas decorations
2: the foliage or branches of the holly