cranberry, n. (pl. -ies)
1 any evergreen shrub of the genus Vaccinium, esp. V. macrocarpon of America and V. oxycoccos of Europe, yielding small red acid berries.
2 a berry from this used for a sauce and in cooking. Also called fen-berry.
17th c.: named by Amer. colonists f. G Kranbeere, LG kranebere crane-berry