elderberry

elderberry
    n 1: a common shrub with black fruit or a small tree of Europe
         and Asia; fruit used for wines and jellies [syn:
         {bourtree}, {black elder}, {common elder}, {elderberry},
         {European elder}, {Sambucus nigra}]
    2: berrylike fruit of an elder used for e.g. wines and jellies
    

elderberry \el"der*ber`ry\, n. (Bot.)
   1. The berrylike drupe of the elder. That of the Old World
      elder ({Sambucus nigra}) and that of the American sweet
      elder ({S. Canadensis}) are sweetish acid, and are eaten
      as a berry or made into wines or jellies.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5]

   2. the European variety of elder (see 3rd {elder}), a common
      black-fruited shrub or small tree of Europe and Asia; the
      fruit is used for wines and jellies.

   Syn: bourtree, black elder, common elder, European elder,
        Sambucus nigra.
        [WordNet 1.5]
    

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]