Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural rasp·ber·ries.
- the fruit of any of several shrubs belonging to the genus Rubus, of the rose family, consisting of small and juicy red, black, or pale yellow drupelets forming a detachable cap about a convex receptacle.
- any shrub bearing this fruit.
- a dark reddish-purple color.
- Informal.
- Bronx cheer.
- any sign or expression of dislike or derision.
noun plural -ries
- any of the prickly shrubs of the rosaceous genus Rubus, such as R. strigosus of E North America and R. idaeus of Europe, that have pinkish-white flowers and typically red berry-like fruits (drupelets)See also bramble
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- the fruit of any such plant
- (as modifier)raspberry jelly
- black raspberry Popular name: blackcap
- a related plant, Rubus occidentalis, of E North America, that has black berry-like fruits
- the fruit of this plant
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- a dark purplish-red colour
- (as adjective)a raspberry dress
- a spluttering noise made with the tongue and lips to express contempt (esp in the phrase blow a raspberry)
1620s, earlier raspis berry (1540s), possibly from raspise “a sweet rose-colored wine” (mid-15c.), from Anglo-Latin vinum raspeys, origin uncertain, as is the connection between this and Old French raspe, Medieval Latin raspecia, raspeium, also meaning “raspberry.” One suggestion is via Old Walloon raspoie “thicket,” of Germanic origin. Klein suggests it is via the French word, from a Germanic source akin to English rasp (v.), with an original sense of “rough berry,” based on appearance.
A native plant of Europe and Asiatic Russia, the name was applied to a similar vine in North America. Meaning “rude sound” (1890) is shortening of raspberry tart, rhyming slang for fart.