common elderberry
common elderberry Lexical Profile
• noun
The small, dark, tart fruit of this shrub, which is traditionally cooked to neutralize natural toxins and used in making syrups, jams, wines, and herbal remedies.
"She spent the afternoon foraging for the common elderberry to make a batch of winter cough syrup."
A widespread deciduous shrub of the adoxa family, native primarily to North America and Europe, distinguished by its large compound leaves, flat-topped clusters of small white flowers, and drooping clusters of dark purple to black berries.
"We planted a common elderberry along the fence line to attract birds and pollinators to our garden."
Word Nuance & Usage
While the cooked berries of the common elderberry are edible and prized for their health benefits, the raw berries, leaves, bark, and stems contain cyanogenic glycosides and are toxic if ingested.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Middle English 'commoun' (widespread) + 'elder' (from Old English 'ellærn') + 'berry' (from Old English 'berige'). Used to distinguish the widespread dark-fruited varieties (Sambucus canadensis and Sambucus nigra) from other species like the red elderberry.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.