saskatoon

¹ American  

[sas-kuh-toon] / ˌsæs kəˈtun /

noun

Canadian.

1. any of several shad bushes, especially the serviceberry, Amelanchier canadensis.

2. the berry of these bushes.

---

Saskatoon ² American  

[sas-kuh-toon] / ˌsæs kəˈtun /

noun

1. a city in S Saskatchewan, in SW Canada.

---

Saskatoon ¹ British  

/ ˌsæskəˈtuːn /

noun

1. a city in W Canada, in S Saskatchewan on the South Saskatchewan River: oil refining; university (1907). Pop: 196 816 (2001)

---

saskatoon ² British  

/ ˌsæskəˈtuːn /

noun

1. a species of serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia, of W Canada: noted for its succulent purplish berries

---

Etymology

Origin of saskatoon

1790–1800; < Cree misa·skwato·min saskatoon berry, derivative of misa·skwat saskatoon bush (literally, that which is solid wood), with -min berry

Example Sentences

The Fab Five feasted on plants gathered in season from the wild — skunk cabbage, saskatoon berries and dandelions — plus fish, moose and deer.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 26, 2021

After an interminable, jolting drive, windrows of saskatoon bushes and blueberries announced the beginning of the farm, then a potato field, then the first glimpse of a long log house surrounded by white trailers.

From New York Times • Jul. 31, 2020

Purdy says she felt “slighted” when, earlier this summer, she received an email from Cornell’s Cooperative Extension suggesting that Canadian growers use juneberry instead of saskatoon berry “to help overall marketing of the berry.”

From Time • Aug. 21, 2014

Sandra Purdy, president of the Saskatoon Berry Council of Canada, the trade group representing the industry, is the de facto saskatoon berry queen of Canada.

From Time • Aug. 21, 2014

On again through the still air, and between the winding avenues of birch, poplar and saskatoon bushes.

From The Rising of the Red Man A Romance of the Louis Riel Rebellion by Mackie, John