from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Service \Serv"ice\, n., or Service \Serv"ice\ [Properly, the
tree which bears serve, OE. serves, pl., service berries, AS.
syrfe service tree; akin to L. sorbus.] (Bot.)
A name given to several trees and shrubs of the genus
{Pyrus}, as {Pyrus domestica} and {Pyrus torminalis} of
Europe, the various species of mountain ash or rowan tree,
and the American shad bush (see {Shad bush}, under {Shad}).
They have clusters of small, edible, applelike berries.
[1913 Webster]
{Service berry} (Bot.), the fruit of any kind of service
tree. In British America the name is especially applied to
that of the several species or varieties of the shad bush
({Amelanchier}.)
[1913 Webster]