Craneberry

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A low-growing shrub producing edible red berries used in cooking and beverages; a fruit resembling a small, tart berry from wetland areas; a plant found often in boggy habitats that yields a popular fruit for culinary and medicinal uses
2. A marsh-dwelling shrub known for its bright red, acidic berries consumed fresh or processed; a tart, red berry from a ground-hugging shrub common in wetlands; a botanical species grown in moist soils bearing small, popular fruits used in sauces and juices
3. A perennial shrub with trailing stems that bears round, sour red berries harvested for food and drink; a water-loving plant providing a distinctive berry used in jams and health products; a fruit-producing bog shrub common in cool climates valued for its nutritional and culinary properties

Etymology: The name is usually explained by the flower, which early observers thought resembled a crane. Its pink blossom has petals that curl backward above a long, pointed cluster of stamens, which together suggest a bird's head and long bill. This is the leading explanation, though it is not firmly documented. "Craneberry" is the older form, and "cranberry" is a later alteration of it. Some accounts link the English name to similar German plant names, but the direction of any borrowing is uncertain.

Synonyms: cranberry