dogberry

[ dawg-ber-ee, -buh-ree, dog- ]
/ ˈdɔgˌbɛr i, -bə ri, ˈdɒg- /

noun, plural dog·ber·ries.

the berry or fruit of any of various plants, as the European dogwood, Cornus sanguinea, the chokeberry, Aronia arbutifolia, or the mountain ash, Sorbus americana.
the plant itself.
any of several plants, especially the dog rose, bearberry, and guelder rose.

Origin of dogberry

First recorded in 1545–55; dog + berry

Words nearby dogberry

dog-tired, dog-walker, dog-whistle, dogbane, dogbane family, dogberry, dogcart, dogcatcher, dogdom, doge, dogey

Definition for dogberry (2 of 2)

Dogberry
[ dawg-ber-ee, -buh-ree, dog- ]
/ ˈdɔgˌbɛr i, -bə ri, ˈdɒg- /

noun, plural Dog·ber·rys for 2.

a foolish constable in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
any foolish, blundering, or stupid official.

Example sentences from the Web for dogberry

British Dictionary definitions for dogberry (1 of 2)

dogberry 1
/ (ˈdɒɡˌbɛrɪ, -bərɪ, -brɪ) /

noun plural -ries

any of certain plants that have berry-like fruits, such as the European dogwood or the bearberry
the fruit of any of these plants

British Dictionary definitions for dogberry (2 of 2)

dogberry 2
/ (ˈdɒɡˌbɛrɪ, -bərɪ, -brɪ) /

noun plural -ries

(sometimes capital) a foolish, meddling, and usually old official

Derived forms of dogberry

dogberryism, noun

Word Origin for dogberry

after Dogberry, character in Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing (1598)