raspberry

[raz-ber-ee, -buh-ree, rahz-] /ˈræzˌbɛr i, -bə ri, ˈrɑz-/
noun, plural raspberries.
1.
the fruit of any of several shrubs belonging to the genus Rubus, of the rose family, consisting of small and juicy red, black, or pale yellow drupelets forming a detachable cap about a convex receptacle.
2.
any shrub bearing this fruit.
3.
a dark reddish-purple color.
4.
Informal.
  1. Bronx cheer.
  2. any sign or expression of dislike or derision.
Origin
1615-25; earlier rasp(is) raspberry (< ?) + berry; (def 4) by shortening of raspberry tart, rhyming slang for fart
Examples from the web for raspberry
  • Out went banana, cherry and wintergreen and in came bright blue raspberry, lemon and green apple.
  • Some are so ripe they have squashed, their raspberry red insides leaking through splits in their velvety skins.
  • To try two variations on the plum-raspberry crumble, click here for the recipes.
  • It nests close to the ground, so it needs foliage- such as raspberry and blackberry patches- to hide in and hunt insects from.
  • Fresh peach ice cream with fresh peaches and raspberries and fresh raspberry sauce and lace cookies.
  • The fortune-teller had heavily rouged cheeks and wore cheap perfume, and her raspberry-colored scarves needed cleaning.
  • Mountains of asparagus, green beans with a raspberry vinaigrette, and roast carrots.
  • If desired, put raspberry coulis on each serving plate.
  • Subway is promoting its fresh-brewed raspberry ice tea by touting its natural tea antioxidants.
  • Popular specialties include the cilantro pesto pizza, nachos and the fresh raspberry tart.
British Dictionary definitions for raspberry

raspberry

/ˈrɑːzbərɪ; -brɪ/
noun (pl) -ries
1.
any of the prickly shrubs of the rosaceous genus Rubus, such as R. strigosus of E North America and R. idaeus of Europe, that have pinkish-white flowers and typically red berry-like fruits (drupelets) See also bramble
2.
  1. the fruit of any such plant
  2. (as modifier): raspberry jelly
3.
black raspberry, Popular name blackcap
  1. a related plant, Rubus occidentalis, of E North America, that has black berry-like fruits
  2. the fruit of this plant
4.
  1. a dark purplish-red colour
  2. (as adjective): a raspberry dress
5.
a spluttering noise made with the tongue and lips to express contempt (esp in the phrase blow a raspberry)
Word Origin
C17: from earlier raspis raspberry, of unknown origin + berry: C19 in sense 5, from rhyming slang raspberry tart fart
Word Origin and History for raspberry
n.

1620s, earlier raspis berry (1540s), possibly from raspise "a sweet rose-colored wine" (mid-15c.), from Anglo-Latin vinum raspeys, origin uncertain, as is the connection between this and Old French raspe, Medieval Latin raspecia, raspeium, also meaning "raspberry." One suggestion is via Old Walloon raspoie "thicket," of Germanic origin. Klein suggests it is via the French word, from a Germanic source akin to English rasp (v.), with an original sense of "rough berry," based on appearance.

A native plant of Europe and Asiatic Russia, the name was applied to a similar vine in North America. Meaning "rude sound" (1890) is shortening of raspberry tart, rhyming slang for fart.