mulberry English · revision 1475

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound, borrowing|attested=c. 1300}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmʌlbəɹi/, /ˈmʌlbɹi/ ''(UK)''; /ˈmʌlˌbɛɹi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|mulberie]], a dissimilated form of [[m|enm|murberie]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)^(Klein 1966) partly [[inh|ang|mōrberie]] and partly [[bor|gmh|mūlberi]], an alteration of [[goh|mūrberi]] ([[de|Maulbeere]]).^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The English and German words were formed from [[la|mōrum|t=mulberry, blackberry]] and the native words for [[berry]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) The Latin word is from [[grc|μόρον|tr=móron|t=mulberry, blackberry]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MW Collegiate) probably from [[ine-pro|*moro-|t=blackberry, mulberry]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The mulberry tree (1382 in the OED; c. 1300 in Etymonline) and its fruit (1398 in the OED; mid-14th century in Etymonline); ''murberie'' before 1300 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The ''l'' replaced the earlier ''r'' by dissimilation, as in German.^(Skeat 1911)^(Weekley 1921)^(Klein 1966) The name was later applied to plants of other genera,^(OED 1989) and in English dialects often to the blackberry (1672).^(OED 1989) The leaves of the white mulberry are used to feed silkworms.^(Collins 2023)^(RHWU) As a colour name, a dark purple, it dates from 1837.^(OED 1989) In the Second World War ''Mulberry'' was the code name of the prefabricated harbours used in the Normandy invasion.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – ''murberie''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1382 – the tree.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1398 – the fruit.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1672 – applied to the blackberry in dialects.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1837 – a dark purple colour.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of several [[deciduous]] trees of the genus ''Morus'', with edible purple, red or white fruit, the leaves of the white mulberry being used to feed [[silkworm|alt=silkworms]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The sweet fruit of any of these trees, resembling a [[blackberry]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any of several similar or related trees, such as the paper mulberry.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A dark purple colour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Indian mulberry]]

+ * [[paper mulberry]]

+ * [[red mulberry]]

+ * [[white mulberry]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[morula]]

+ * [[murrey]]

+ * [[berry]]

+ * [[sycamore]]

+ * [[blackberry]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}