Gooseberries

/ˈɡuːzberi/ noun

Definition

Plural of gooseberry; small, tart berries that grow on thorny bushes, often used in jams and desserts.

Etymology

Compound: 'goose' + 'berry'. The etymology is debated—possibly named because geese were thought to eat them, or from Dutch 'Kruisbes' which was mistranslated. Medieval term recorded in English by 1400s.

Kelly Says

Gooseberries are tangy little flavor bombs—a gooseberry that's both ripe and unripe at the same time has this perfect sweet-tart balance that's hard to find elsewhere.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.