agarita

American  

[ag-uh-ree-tuh, ah-guh-] / ˌæg əˈri tə, ˌɑ gə- /

Also algerita

noun

1. a tall shrub, Mahonia trifoliolata, of the barberry family, of southwestern North America, having stiff, oblong leaflets with spiny teeth and a red fruit used in jelly.

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Etymology

Origin of agarita

First recorded in 1885–90, from Mexican Spanish agrito, probably derivative of Spanish agrio “bitter,” Old Spanish agro, from Latin ācr- (stem of ācer “sharp”)

Example Sentences

In New England there would be squash and plum pudding, in the South rice and yams, in Texas a big cut-glass bowl of homemade, ruby-red agarita jelly.

From Time Magazine Archive