hackberry

 
Pronunciation: /ˈhakb(ə)ri/

noun (plural hackberries)

  • a tree of the elm family which has leaves that resemble those of nettles, found in both tropical and temperate regions. See also nettle tree.
    • Genus Celtis, family Ulmaceae: several species, in particular the North American hackberry (C. occidentalis), which bears purple edible berries
  • the berry of the hackberry tree.

Origin:

mid 18th century: variant of northern English dialect hagberry, of Scandinavian origin