barberry

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: bar=ber=ry

CIDE DICTIONARY

barberry, n. [OE. barbarin, barbere, OF. berbere.].

 A shrub of the genus Berberis, common along roadsides and in neglected fields. Berberis vulgaris is the species best known; its oblong red berries are made into a preserve or sauce, and have been deemed efficacious in fluxes and fevers. The bark dyes a fine yellow, esp. the bark of the root.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

barberry, n. (pl. -ies)
1 any shrub of the genus Berberis, with spiny shoots, yellow flowers, and ovoid red berries, often grown as hedges.
2 its berry.

Etymology

ME f. OF berberis, of unkn. orig.: assim. to BERRY