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gooseberry
(go̵̅o̅s′ber′ē, -bə rē; go̵̅o̅z′-)
noun pl. gooseberries
- a small, sour berry used in making preserves, pies, etc.: it resembles a currant but is larger
- any of various prickly shrubs (genus Ribes) of the saxifrage family which produce gooseberries
Origin: as if < goose + berry, but prob. folk-etym. form for *grose berie, akin to dial. grosel, gooseberry (< Fr groseille), Du kruisbezie, Ger krausbeere
See gooseberry in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- a. A spiny European shrub (Ribes uva-crispa) having lobed leaves, greenish flowers, and edible greenish to yellow or red berries.b. The fruit of this plant.
- Any of several plants bearing similar fruit.
Origin:
Origin: goose (probably shortening and alteration by folk-etymology of French groseille, gooseberry; see grossularite)
Origin: + berry
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