/bahr"ber'ee, -beuh ree/ , n. , pl. barberries .
1. a shrub of the genus Berberis, esp. B. vulgaris, having yellow flowers in elongated clusters. Cf. barberry family .
2. the red, elongated, acid fruit of this shrub.
[ 1350-1400; ME barbere barbaris ( barbaris ), with -baris conformed to bere BERRY ]