Whort

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of wild berry, similar to a blueberry, found in various regions and often used in cooking or preserves
2. A small, sweet, edible fruit typically from a shrub, often gathered in late summer and used in various culinary applications
3. A juicy dark-colored berry, commonly found in the wild, that can be enjoyed fresh or used in desserts and jams

Etymology: "Whort" is a dialect or nonstandard pronunciation of "whortleberry," the name for a small wild berry of the heath and moorland family. Its history therefore lies in the longer word, which is the form that has been preserved in print. The shortened spoken form grew from the way the word was said in regional speech, where the final syllable was clipped away, leaving the opening sound and vowel to carry the name.

Synonyms: blueberry