English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English wynberie, wynberie (a grape or some other kind of berry), from Old English wīnberġe (grape, literally wine-berry), from Proto-West Germanic *wīnabaʀi, from Proto-Germanic *wīnabasją (wineberry; grape), equivalent to wine +‎ berry. Doublet of whimberry (bilberry).

Cognate with Dutch wijnbeer, West Frisian wynbei (grape), wiemer (currant), German Weinbeere (grape), Swedish vinbär (currant), Icelandic vínber (grape), Gothic 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌽𐌰𐌱𐌰𐍃𐌹 (weinabasi, grape).

Noun edit

wineberry (plural wineberries)

  1. (obsolete, possibly poetic) The grape (fruit of plants of the genus Vitis).
  2. The plant Rubus phoenicolasius, the Japanese wineberry.
  3. Its edible fruit, resembling a raspberry.
  4. The tree Aristotelia serrata, endemic to New Zealand, with broad rose-coloured leaves.
  5. Its edible fruit, a small black berry.
  6. (UK, obsolete) The red currant.

Translations edit