Browse (?), n. [OF. brost, broust, sprout, shoot, F. brout browse, browsewood, prob. fr. OHG. burst, G. borste, bristle; cf. also Armor. brousta to browse. See Bristle, n., Brush, n.]
The tender branches or twigs of trees and shrubs, fit for the food of cattle and other animals; green food.
Spenser.
Sheep, goats, and oxen, and the nobler steed,
On browse, and corn, and flowery meadows feed.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.
Browse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Browsed (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Browsing.] [For broust, OF. brouster, bruster, F. brouter. See Browse, n., and cf. Brut.]
1.
To eat or nibble off, as the tender branches of trees, shrubs, etc.; -- said of cattle, sheep, deer, and some other animals.
Yes, like the stag, when snow the plasture sheets,
The barks of trees thou browsedst.
Shak.
2.
To feed on, as pasture; to pasture on; to graze.
Fields . . . browsed by deep-uddered kine.
Tennyson.
© Webster 1913.
Browse (?), v. i.
1.
To feed on the tender branches or shoots of shrubs or trees, as do cattle, sheep, and deer.
2.
To pasture; to feed; to nibble.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.