agarita

[ ag-uh-ree-tuh, ah-guh- ]

noun

1. a tall shrub, Mahonia trifoliolata, of the barberry family, of southwestern North America, having stiff, oblong leaflets with spiny teeth and a red fruit used in jelly.

Word History and Origins

Origin of agarita¹

First recorded in 1885–90, Americanism; from Mexican Spanish agrito, probably derivative of Spanish agrio “bitter,” Old Spanish agro, from Latin ācr- (stem of ācer “sharp”)

Example Sentences

In New England there would be squash and plum pudding, in the South rice and yams, in Texas a big cut-glass bowl of homemade, ruby-red agarita jelly.

From Time Magazine Archive