barberry

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See also: Barberry

English

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Berberis thunbergii shoot with fruit
Common barberry, Berberis vulgaris

Etymology

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From Middle English berberie, from Medieval Latin berberis (on which see Arabic بَرْبَارِيس (barbārīs)), influenced by berie (berry).[1] Doublet of berberis.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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barberry (plural barberries)

  1. Any of the thorny shrubs of genus Berberis, which bear yellow flowers and red or blue-black berries.
    Synonym: berberis
    • 1583, Philip Barrough [i.e., Philip Barrow], “Of Making Bolus”, in The Methode of Phisicke, Conteyning the Causes, Signes, and Cures of Inward Diseases in Mans Body from the Head to the Foote. [], London: [] Thomas Vautroullier [], →OCLC, book VI, page 288:
      BOlvs in Engliſh is called a morſell. It is a medicine laxatiue, in forme & faſhion it is meanely whole, & it is ſwallowed by litle gobbets. [] . medulla caſiæ fiſtulæ newly drawen. . j. or ʒ. x. the graines (that is the kernelles) of barbaries. . ß. and with ſugar roſet [sugar compounded with rose petals] make a bole.
  2. The edible fruit of these shrubs.

Derived terms

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Translations

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References

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  1. ^ berberie, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Further reading

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