Berberis vulgaris n 1: upright deciduous European shrub widely naturalized in United States having clusters of juicy berries [syn: {common barberry}, {European barberry}, {Berberis vulgaris}]
Barberry \Bar"ber*ry\, n. [OE. barbarin, barbere, OF. berbere.] (Bot.) 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. [Also spelt {berberry}.] [1913 Webster]