noun pl. barberries
- any of a genus (Berberis) of spiny shrubs of the barberry family, with sour, red berries and yellow flowers: it is often used for hedges
- the berry
Origin:
ME berberie (infl. by berie, berry) < ML barberis < Ar barbārīs
adjective
designating a family (Berberidaceae) of mostly spiny dicotyledonous plants, (order Ranunculales), including the May apple and mahonia