checkerberry

noun

check·​er·​ber·​ry ˈche-kər-ˌber-ē 

-ˌbe-rē

1

: the spicy red berrylike fruit of a North American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

2

: a plant producing checkerberries

Illustration of checkerberry

Word History

Etymology

checker "the wild service tree Torminalis glaberrima" (originally a dialectal word, of uncertain origin) + berry entry 1

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

checkerberry

noun

check·​er·​ber·​ry ˈchek-ə(r)-ˌber-ē 

: wintergreen sense 1a

also : the spicy red fruit of a checkerberry