bayberry

noun bay·ber·ry \ ˈbā-ˌber-ē , -ˌbe-rē \

Definition of bayberry

1 : any of several wax myrtles; especially : a hardy shrub (Myrica pensylvanica) of coastal eastern North America bearing dense clusters of small berries covered with grayish-white wax

2 : the fruit of a bayberry

See bayberry defined for kids

Recent Examples of bayberry from the Web

Then, a design by Dirtworks, built by the Todd Group, covered much of that structure with enormous mounds of sand planted with beach grasses and plants like serviceberry, bayberry and beach rose.

— tim mckeough, New York Times, "The Hurricane-Proof Beach House," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bayberry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of bayberry

1575

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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BAYBERRY Defined for Kids

bayberry

noun bay·ber·ry \ ˈbā-ˌber-ē \

Definition of bayberry for Students

plural bayberries

: a shrub with leathery leaves and clusters of small berries covered with grayish white wax

Medical Dictionary

bayberry

noun bay·ber·ry \ ˈbā-ˌber-ē, British often & US sometimes -b(ə-)rē \

medical Definition of bayberry

plural bayberries

1 : a West Indian tree of the genus Pimenta (P. racemosa) of the myrtle family yielding a yellow aromatic oil

2 a : any of several wax myrtles; especially : a hardy shrub (Myrica pensylvanica) of coastal eastern North America bearing dense clusters of small globular nuts covered with grayish white wax

b : the fruit of a bayberry