chinaberry
UK[ˈtʃaɪnəˌbɛri]US[ˈtʃaɪnəˌbɛri]
n
A small, round, yellow or cream-colored berry from the chinaberry tree, often considered inedible or poisonous.
n
The deciduous tree (Melia azedarach) of the mahogany family, native to Asia and Australia, which bears these berries and is widely planted as an ornamental.
Morpheme Breakdown
china
berry
china
berry
Etymology
The word "chinaberry" is a compound formed in American English during the 18th or 19th century. The first element, "China," references the Asiatic origins of the Melia azedarach tree, which was introduced to the Americas from Asia. The second element, "berry," from Old English berie, simply describes its fruit. The compound's logic is transparently descriptive, naming the plant by its geographic association and the type of fruit it produces, despite the berries being toxic and not true culinary berries.
Analysis
Structure: china + berry
- china: (Origin: English, from the country name "China") Functional role: A proper noun used attributively to denote origin or association.
- berry: (Origin: Old English berie) Functional role: A noun denoting a small, pulpy fruit.
Examples
The fallen chinaberries covered the sidewalk in a slick, yellow carpet.
They sat in the shade of the old chinaberry tree, its lacy leaves filtering the afternoon sun.
The bird ate the chinaberry, unaware of its mildly poisonous properties.