Curlewberry

/ˈkɜrluːˌbɛri/ noun

Definition

A type of berry or fruit, possibly a folk or regional name for a particular plant species (etymology and exact identity unclear).

Etymology

From curlew (the bird) + berry. The exact origin is obscure; this may be a regional folk name for a berry plant, possibly referring to a plant found in curlew habitat or one with curlew-like characteristics.

Kelly Says

Some old folk names for plants are utterly mysterious—'curlewberry' is so obscure that even botanists aren't sure exactly what plant it refers to! It's probably a regional dialect word for something that grows in wetlands where curlews live, but the knowledge has mostly been lost.

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