checkerberry

[chek-er-ber-ee]

noun

plural

checkerberries 

1. the red fruit of the American wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens.

2. the plant itself.

3. any of several other plants bearing similar fruit, or the fruit itself.

checkerberry

/ -brɪ, ˈtʃɛkəbərɪ /

noun

1. the fruit of any of various plants, esp the wintergreen ( Gaultheria procumbens )

2. any plant bearing this fruit

Word History and Origins

Origin of checkerberry¹

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; perhaps so named from its appearance

Example Sentences

Having some portion of the floral envelopes attached to the pericarp to form the fruit, as in the checkerberry, the mulberry, and the pineapple.

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It was too dark now to look for checkerberries and violet buds.

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Let her learn the difference between huckleberries and blackberries, learn where checkerberries grow thickest and dig up sweet flag root with her own hands as country children do.

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Yankee children will understand at once that I mean the checkerberries, or, as we were more accustomed to call them, the boxberries.

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The checkerberries and beechnuts were just ripe, and 142 very good.

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