from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Elder \El"der\, n. [OE. ellern, eller, AS. ellen, cf. LG.
elloorn; perh. akin to OHG. holantar, holuntar, G. holunder;
or perh. to E. alder, n.] (Bot.)
A genus of shrubs ({Sambucus}) having broad umbels of white
flowers, and small black or red berries.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The common North American species is {Sambucus
Canadensis}; the common European species ({S. nigra})
forms a small tree. The red-berried elder is {S.
pubens}. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient. The
European elder ({Sambucus nigra}) is also called the
{elderberry}, {bourtree}, {Old World elder}, {black
elder}, and {common elder}.
[1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
{Box elder}. See under 1st {Box}.
{Dwarf elder}. See {Danewort}.
{Elder tree}. (Bot.) Same as {Elder}. --Shak.
{Marsh elder}, the cranberry tree {Viburnum Opulus}).
[1913 Webster]