hagberry

9.9

A small wild tree with dark cherries that birds eat

noun

Archaic

: cereza silvestre

The blackbirds flocked to the hagberry tree in search of ripe fruit.

Examples

She picked handfuls of hagberries for making a tart jam.
In spring, the hagberry blossoms filled the air with a sweet fragrance.
Look at the hagberry tree over there!
The hagberry tree is in bloom this spring.
The blackbirds flocked to the hagberry tree in search of ripe fruit.
In spring, the hagberry blossoms filled the air with a sweet fragrance.
She picked handfuls of hagberries for making a tart jam.

Synonyms

Prunus padus

vshagberry

Specialized

9.9

A small European tree with clusters of sweet-smelling white flowers and small bitter black cherries

is a general name emphasizing fruit eaten by wild animals

bird cherry

vshagberry

7.9

A small wild cherry tree with red or black fruit that birds often eat

is used especially for that specific small northern European tree

common bird cherry

vshagberry

9.2

A small European tree with clusters of sweet-smelling white flowers and black fruit eaten by birds

is a broader name that highlights the fruit rather than the common name

European bird cherry

vshagberry

7.9

A small European tree that has groups of white flowers and small black fruit

is the general label that notes the fruit is popular with animals

hagberry tree

vshagberry

Archaic

9.9

A small European cherry tree with clusters of dark berries

is the common rural name for the same small tree eaten by animals

wild cherry

vshagberry

4.0

A small tree that grows naturally and the small tart fruit it makes

is the specific northern form often identified by its animal appeal

Compounds

hagberry tree

Archaic

9.9

A small European cherry tree with clusters of dark berries

Surface Forms

hagberry singular

hagberries plural

Etymology

Hagberry probably comes from old words like hag ('witch') or haw (as in hawthorn, 'hedge'). A helpful way to remember it is to think of a 'witch's berry' or a berry that grows by the hedge, because both images fit the small wild cherry that birds love.