n. 1 a berry (usu. green, purple, or black) growing in clusters on a vine, used as fruit and in making wine. 2 (prec. by the) colloq. wine. 3 = GRAPESHOT. 4 (in pl.) a diseased growth like a bunch of grapes on the pastern of a horse etc., or on a pleura in cattle. grape hyacinth any liliaceous plant of the genus Muscari, with clusters of usu. blue flowers. grape-sugar dextrose. grapey adj. (also grapy).
[ ME f. OF grape bunch of grapes prob. f. graper gather (grapes) f. grap(p)e hook, ult. f. Gmc ]