gooseberry

[ goos-ber-ee, -buh-ree, gooz- ]

noun

, plural goose·ber·ries.

1. the edible, acid, globular, sometimes spiny fruit of certain prickly shrubs belonging to the genus Ribes, of the saxifrage family, especially R. uva-crispa (or R. grossularia ).
2. a shrub bearing this fruit.

gooseberry

/ ˈɡʊzbərɪ; -brɪ /

noun

1. a Eurasian shrub, Ribes uva-crispa (or R. grossularia ), having greenish, purple-tinged flowers and ovoid yellow-green or red-purple berries: family Grossulariaceae See also currant
2. 1. the berry of this plant
   2. ( as modifier )

      gooseberry jam

3. informal.
   an unwanted single person in a group of couples, esp a third person with a couple (often in the phrase play gooseberry )
4. Cape gooseberry
   a tropical American solanaceous plant, Physalis peruviana, naturalized in southern Africa, having yellow flowers and edible yellow berries See also ground cherry

Word History and Origins

Origin of gooseberry¹

First recorded in 1525–35; goose + berry

Example Sentences

Or maybe they just have an effective rebrand, as did the kiwi — formerly called the Chinese gooseberry.

From Salon

And so it was, with the bloke who did his job eight years ago, Lord Cameron, playing 'I’m not a leader' gooseberry in a photo with three actual leaders - the presidents of the United States, and France and the Chancellor of Germany.

From BBC

This possesses herbal and nutty tones on the palate alongside a good concentration of gooseberry and kiwi fruit flavors — nice texture.

From Seattle Times

“It’s the gooseberry seeds. They get in our teeth.”

From Literature

Eventually, if all goes as hoped, patches of Gary oak, desert gooseberry, and mock orange will take hold and a lush ribbon of cottonwood, willow, and ash trees will line the banks of the river.

From Science Magazine