Heath \Heath\ (h[=e]th), n. [OE. heth waste land, the plant
   heath, AS. h[=ae][eth]; akin to D. & G. heide, Icel.
   hei[eth]r waste land, Dan. hede, Sw. hed, Goth. hai[thorn]i
   field, L. bucetum a cow pasture; cf. W. coed a wood, Skr.
   ksh[=e]tra field. [root]20.]
   1. (Bot.)
      (a) A low shrub ({Erica vulgaris} or {Calluna vulgaris}),
          with minute evergreen leaves, and handsome clusters of
          pink flowers. It is used in Great Britain for brooms,
          thatch, beds for the poor, and for heating ovens. It
          is also called {heather}, and {ling}.
      (b) Also, any species of the genus {Erica}, of which
          several are European, and many more are South African,
          some of great beauty. See Illust. of {Heather}.
          
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   2. A place overgrown with heath; any cheerless tract of
      country overgrown with shrubs or coarse herbage.
      
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            Their stately growth, though bare,
            Stands on the blasted heath.          --Milton
      
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   {Heath cock} (Zool.), the blackcock. See {Heath grouse}
      (below).

   {Heath grass} (Bot.), a kind of perennial grass, of the genus
      {Triodia} ({Triodia decumbens}), growing on dry heaths.

   {Heath grouse}, or {Heath game} (Zool.), a European grouse
      ({Tetrao tetrix}), which inhabits heaths; -- called also
      {black game}, {black grouse}, {heath poult}, {heath fowl},
      {moor fowl}. The male is called {heath cock}, and
      {blackcock}; the female, {heath hen}, and {gray hen}.

   {Heath hen}. (Zool.) See {Heath grouse} (above).

   {Heath pea} (Bot.), a species of bitter vetch ({Lathyrus  macrorhizus}), the tubers of which are eaten, and in
      Scotland are used to flavor whisky.

   {Heath throstle} (Zool.), a European thrush which frequents
      heaths; the ring ouzel.
      
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