cowberry

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

noun

, plural cow·ber·ries.

1. the berry or fruit of any of various shrubs, especially Vaccinium vitis-idaea, of the heath family, growing in pastures.
2. any of these shrubs.

cowberry

/ -brɪ; ˈkaʊbərɪ /

noun

1. a creeping ericaceous evergreen shrub, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, of N temperate and arctic regions, with pink or red flowers and edible slightly acid berries
2. the berry of this plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of cowberry¹

1790–1800; cow ¹ + berry, for Latin vaccīnium plant name (in New Latin: genus name), derivative of vaccīnus of cows; vaccine

Example Sentences

The cowberry, or red whortleberry, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea, is sometimes sold for the cranberry.

From Project Gutenberg