berberis
noun
ber·ber·is ˈbər-bər-əs 
: barberry
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, the genus including barberry, alteration of Medieval Latin barberis barberry, from Arabic barbārīs
First Known Use
1561, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
berberis
noun
ber·ber·is ˈbər-bə-rəs
1
capitalized : a large genus of shrubs (family Berberidaceae) that usually have prickly stems, yellow flowers, and red or blackish berries compare mahonia
2
: the dried rhizome and roots of some barberries of the genus Mahonia (especially M. aquifolium) that contain a number of alkaloids (as berberine and berbamine)