whortleberry

American  

[hwur-tl-ber-ee, wur-] / ˈʰwɜr tlˌbɛr i, ˈwɜr- /

noun

plural

whortleberries

1. the edible black berry of a Eurasian shrub, Vaccinium myrtillus, of the heath family.

2. the shrub itself.

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whortleberry British  

/ ˈwɜːtəlˌbɛrɪ /

noun

1. Also called : huckleberry.   hurt.   whort.  a small Eurasian ericaceous shrub, Vaccinium myrtillus , greenish-pink flowers and edible sweet blackish berries

2. the fruit of this shrub

3. a related plant, V. uliginosum, of mountain regions, having pink flowers and black fruits

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Etymology

Origin of whortleberry

First recorded in 1570–80; dialectal variant of hurtleberry

Example Sentences

Mr. Glass continued in an interrogative vein as mordant as the whortleberry juice of his beautiful homeland.

From Time Magazine Archive

For the most part it was covered with a thick growth of gorse and whortleberry, and low tough thorns, though here and there clearings opened, the scars of recent fires.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

The baked sweet apple and whortleberry seem to be least objectionable.

From Vegetable Diet: As Sanctioned by Medical Men, and by Experience in All Ages Including a System of Vegetable Cookery by Alcott, William A. (William Andrus)

It was very rocky, the only vegetation being some scant grass and some whortleberry bushes.

From Robert Coverdale's Struggle Or, On The Wave Of Success by Alger, Horatio

Fay leaned out of the pony carriage and picked from the high bank a spray of whortleberry with a butterfly poised on it.

From Prisoners Fast Bound In Misery And Iron by Cholmondeley, Mary