Sticker Bush
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "sticker bush" is a catch-all term for any thorny plant or briar patch. It can mean blackberry vines, roses, greenbrier, or just plain brush that’ll scratch you up.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If it's summertime, I'm using 'sticker bushes.' It's just what most people call them around here. Hillbilly Dude Says...
If it's summertime, I'm using 'sticker bushes.' It's just what most people call them around here. Pronunciation
[STIK-ur bush]
Meaning & Usage
- Any thorny bush or plant (noun)
Mae:
Watch out - sticker bush right there!
Watch out - sticker bush right there!
Earl:
Too late, it done caught my britches.
Too late, it done caught my britches.variations: briar, thorn bush, bramble, greenbrier, blackberry cane, sticker patch, thorny bush
★ "Sticker bush" isn’t a scientific name - it’s just the regular ol' way kids and country folks label any plant that’ll stick, scratch, or tear your clothes. ★
Origin and Etymology
Likely from the simple combination of "sticker" (something sharp that pricks) and "bush." The term spread in Southern and Appalachian rural talk as a catch-all for briars and thorns.
Usage Notes
Common in children’s speech and family talk in Appalachia and the South. "Sticker bush" may refer to many different plants, but always with thorns. Used less in formal or botanical settings.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it quick: "stik-ur bush." Often plural: "sticker bushes."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 27). Sticker Bush. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sticker-bush
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Sticker Bush." HillbillySlang.com, 27 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sticker-bush.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Sticker Bush." HillbillySlang.com. August 27, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sticker-bush.
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