berberis

noun

ber·​ber·​is ˈbər-bər-əs 

: barberry

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, the genus including barberry, alteration of Medieval Latin barberis barberry, from Arabic barbārīs

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

berberis

noun

ber·​ber·​is ˈbər-bə-rəs 

1

capitalized : a large genus of shrubs (family Berberidaceae) that usually have prickly stems, yellow flowers, and red or blackish berries compare mahonia

2

: the dried rhizome and roots of some barberries of the genus Mahonia (especially M. aquifolium) that contain a number of alkaloids (as berberine and berbamine)