1) This was once the usual word for the common furze or gorse.
It was a plant with a variety of uses, and many townships had areas set aside where it could be gathered: 1537 ‘the township of Hudderfeld was enjoined that henceforth they will not carry any fuell called whynnes from the common of Dalton’
1556 the Parson had whinnes and thornes opon Whitwell More in the Prior ground so many as served his kitchyn, Kirkham
1612 John Cade [presented] for damaging the hedge of whins of a close ... called Chester Close, Middleton Tyas
1620 John Pease ... did burne and sett on fire most part of the firres or whinnes growing on a pasture of Leon. Cleasbie’s ... to the number of 200 waine-loades ... which pasture he hath letten out ... and in the same demise reserved the whinnes ... for his house use, Cleasby
1668 to my sonn ... my part of the cart which is betwixt me & and him, leading my wife her turves & whines her life, Barley
1672 saw Anthony Young take a shirt of the whinnes or furres where it was laid out to dry, Darley
1698 About Hallifax side ... they took green whinz chopt them a little, put them in a trough and stampt them ... to bruise all their pricles and then gave them to their beasts
1703 by carelessnesse of a woman fetching fyer from a neighbours house and scattering some fyer which got into a whin heap adjoining ... the houses which took fyer and burnt down, West Riding
1740 two capps and one handkerchief ... hanging upon some whinns near the house, Sheffield
1805 The young shoots of whins or furze are excellent fotherage for fattening horses, Huntington.