checkerberry

[ chek-er-ber-ee ]

/ ˈtʃɛk ərˌbɛr i /

the red fruit of the American wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens.

the plant itself.

any of several other plants bearing similar fruit, or the fruit itself.

Origin of checkerberry

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; perhaps so named from its appearance

Gaultheria procumbens (checkerberry), prevailing everywhere in woods along banks of rivers.

The Maine Woods |Henry David Thoreau
Both boys breathed deep of the piney fragrance and filled their mouths with pungent "checkerberry" leaves.

Still Jim |Honor Willsie Morrow
The checkerberry's spicy flavor permeates leaves, stem and fruit.

Old Plymouth Trails |Winthrop Packard
The Wintergreen, or Checkerberry, used for flavoring, belongs to this genus.

Field Book of Western Wild Flowers |Margaret Armstrong

We taste still the sting of checkerberry and woodsy flavor of the fragrant birch.

Meadow Grass |Alice Brown

checkerberry

/ (ˈtʃɛkəbərɪ, -brɪ) /

the fruit of any of various plants, esp the wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

any plant bearing this fruit