checkerberry
Americannoun
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the red fruit of the American wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens.
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the plant itself.
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any of several other plants bearing similar fruit, or the fruit itself.
noun
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the fruit of any of various plants, esp the wintergreen ( Gaultheria procumbens )
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any plant bearing this fruit
Etymology
Origin of checkerberry
An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; perhaps so named from its appearance
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Its industries are varied: they make large washing-machines and mangles for hotels and public institutions, weave woolen cloths and flannels, make sarsaparilla syrup, checkerberry oil, and knit woolen socks.
From The Communistic Societies of the United States From Personal Visit and Observation by Nordhoff, Charles
"Thank you, Mrs. Caukins, but I'll not trouble him; Tave is coming up to drive me home about eight; he knows checkerberry picking isn't easy work."
From Flamsted quarries by Nelson, G. Patrick
If preferred, use checkerberry or creme de menthe.
From Stevenson Memorial Cook Book by Various
They're as innocent as they look; good honest mint and spice and checkerberry and lemon and rose.
From Real Folks by Whitney, A. D. T. (Adeline Dutton Train)
"Dinner-time! plenty of checkerberry buds and juicy berries in the wood!" sang yellow-bird on a bough above.
From Minnie; or, The Little Woman A Fairy Story by Guild, Caroline Snowden
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
