I have a sneaking suspicion that this is a basketry term. Since I have a friend, Ankaret Dean, who is a big-time International Basketry Expert, I forwarded the question to her. May hear back soon if she's not at some International Basketry Conference or other...

There's that Ewan McColl verse:
Fareweel tae the beesoms o' heather and broom,
Fareweel tae the creel an the basket.
The folks a' taday, they would fair sooner pay
For a thing that's been made oot a plastic.

Bill C