any spiny berberidaceous shrub of the widely distributed genus Berberis, esp B. vulgaris, having clusters of yellow flowers and orange or red berries: widely cultivated as hedge plants
2.
the fruit of any of these plants
Word origin
C15: from Old French berberis, from Arabic barbāris
barberry in American English
(ˈbɑrˌbɛri; ˈbɑrbəri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈbarˌberries
1.
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
2.
the berry
adjective
3.
designating a family (Berberidaceae) of mostly spiny dicotyledonous plants, (order Ranunculales), including the May apple and mahonia
Word origin
ME berberie (infl. by berie, berry) < ML barberis < Ar barbārīs