deerberry

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

noun

, plural deer·ber·ries.

1. either of two shrubs, Vaccinium stamineum or V. caesium, of the heath family, native to the eastern U.S., having clusters of small, white or greenish flowers and blue or greenish berries.
2. the fruit of either of these shrubs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of deerberry¹

1805–15, Americanism; deer + berry; alleged to be a source of winter food for deer

Example Sentences

In the underbrush, where the deerberry showed hectic blotches, a squirrel worked busily, completing its winter store, while in the slanting sun rays a tawny butterfly, like a wind-blown, loosened tiger lily, danced its last mad dance with death.

From Project Gutenberg