chokecherry
chokecherry Lexical Profile
chokecherry Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A species of deciduous shrub or small tree native to North America, characterized by elongated clusters of small white flowers and highly astringent dark berries.
"We planted a row of chokecherry along the fence line to attract birds and provide a windbreak."
North American The small, tart, and highly astringent dark red or black stone fruit of the chokecherry tree, typically requiring heavy sweetening or processing to be palatable.
"After the first frost, the family spent the afternoon gathering chokecherries to make their annual batch of jelly and syrup."
Word Nuance & Usage
While the flesh of the chokecherry fruit is edible and culturally significant in Native American cuisine, its seeds, leaves, and stems contain cyanogenic glycosides and are toxic to humans and livestock.
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in North American English in the mid-18th century as a compound of 'choke' and 'cherry', referring to the heavily astringent, mouth-puckering taste of the raw berries.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.