noun
gooseberry
GOOS-bair-ee/ˈɡuːsberi/
A thorny shrub bearing tart edible berries.
The gooseberry grows beside the fence and bears tart fruit.
Etymology
The berry element identifies the fruit, but goose- has an uncertain origin. It may refer to the bird or reflect a reshaped older fruit name; the evidence does not settle the connection.
In context
I'm often asked what's the best fruit bush for beginners. Well, one stands head and shoulders above the rest - the gorgeous gooseberry!
More examples
- We plant two gooseberries along the edge of the garden.
- She prunes the gooseberry each winter to remove old branches.
- Wear gloves when working around a gooseberry's thorns.
Forms
gooseberry · gooseberries
Similar words
- shrub
- Names the broader plant type, without specifying thorns or fruit.