barberry

[ bahr-ber-ee, -buh-ree ]

noun

, plural bar·ber·ries.

1. a shrub of the genus Berberis, especially B. vulgaris, having yellow flowers in elongated clusters. Compare barberry family.
2. the red, elongated, acid fruit of this shrub.

barberry

/ ˈbɑːbərɪ /

noun

1. any spiny berberidaceous shrub of the widely distributed genus Berberis , esp B. vulgaris , having clusters of yellow flowers and orange or red berries: widely cultivated as hedge plants
2. the fruit of any of these plants

Word History and Origins

Origin of barberry¹

1350–1400; Middle English barbere < Medieval Latin barbaris (< Arabic barbāris ), with -baris conformed to bere berry

Word History and Origins

Origin of barberry¹

C15: from Old French berberis , from Arabic barbāris

Example Sentences

Acres of terraced growing areas and multiple greenhouses produced many native plants grown from seed collected around the park such as sumacs, ceanothus, yellow-blooming flannel bush, manzanitas, barberries, monkeyflowers, Catalina cherry, toyon and coffeeberry.

From Los Angeles Times

His brisket is shawarma-inspired, served with stewed leeks, thyme and pickled barberries.

From Salon

‘Concorde’ is an especially compact barberry with deep burgundy foliage that holds throughout the summer before turning crimson in fall, together with the ripening rose hips.

From Seattle Times

Berberine is a chemical compound extracted from plants like goldenseal and barberry and often sold as a supplement, typically in capsules filled with yellow-tinged powder.

From Seattle Times

Each of the three lids sports neatly coifed lawns with dense rings of decorative planting — Japanese snowball, David viburnum, cranesbill geraniums, Chinese barberry.

From Seattle Times