cherry \cher"ry\ che^r"ry^, n. oe. chery, for cherys, fr.
   f. cerise cf. as. cyrs cherry, fr. ll. ceresia, fr. l.
   cerasus cherry tree, gr. keraso`s, perh. fr. ke`ras horn,
   from the hardness of the wood.
   1. bot. a tree or shrub of the genus prunus which also
      includes the plum bearing a fleshy drupe with a bony
      stone;
      a the common garden cherry prunus cerasus, of which
          several hundred varieties are cultivated for the
          fruit, some of which are, the begarreau, blackheart,
          black tartarian, oxheart, morelle or morello, may-duke
          corrupted from m'edoc in france.
      b the wild cherry; as, prunus serotina wild black
          cherry, valued for its timber; prunus virginiana
          choke cherry, an american shrub which bears
          astringent fruit; prunus avium and prunus padus,
          european trees bird cherry.
          1913 webster

   2. the fruit of the cherry tree, a drupe of various colors
      and flavors.
      1913 webster

   3. the timber of the cherry tree, esp. of the black cherry,
      used in cabinetmaking, etc.
      1913 webster

   4. a peculiar shade of red, like that of a cherry.
      1913 webster

   barbadoes cherry. see under barbadoes.

   cherry bird zool., an american bird; the cedar bird; --
      so called from its fondness for cherries.

   cherry bounce, cherry brandy and sugar.

   cherry brandy, brandy in which cherries have been steeped.
      

   cherry laurel bot., an evergreen shrub prunus
      lauro-cerasus common in shrubberies, the poisonous
      leaves of which have a flavor like that of bitter almonds.
      

   cherry pepper bot., a species of capsicum capsicum
      cerasiforme, with small, scarlet, intensely piquant
      cherry-shaped fruit.

   cherry pit.
      a a child's play, in which cherries are thrown into a
          hole. --shak.
      b a cherry stone.

   cherry rum, rum in which cherries have been steeped.

   cherry sucker zool., the european spotted flycatcher
      musicapa grisola; -- called also cherry chopper
      cherry snipe.

   cherry tree, a tree that bears cherries.

   ground cherry, winter cherry, see alkekengi.
      1913 webster
see also:
prunus prunus cerasus prunus serotina prunus virginiana prunus avium prunus padus 
barbadoes cherry barbadoes cherry bird cherry bounce cherry brandy 
cherry laurel prunus lauro-cerasus cherry pepper capsicum capsicum cerasiforme 
cherry pit cherry rum cherry sucker musicapa grisola cherry chopper 
cherry snipe cherry tree ground cherry winter cherry alkekengi