Chinaberry
/ˈtʃaɪ.nəˌbɛr.i/noun
A small ornamental tree or shrub, Melia azedarach, with yellow flowers and poisonous berries.
Did you know?Despite its name, chinaberry is not a true berry and its etymology is tied to the tree’s journey through trade and naming, not to any ancient occult meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μελία (melía)
“Ash tree; later used in the botanical name of the genus”
Medieval Latin
Latin
meliā
“A Latinized form used in botanical naming”
Persian / Arabic
Persian/Arabic
azad-darakht / azādirācht
“A tree name associated with the species in the East”
18th Century
English
chinaberry
“A name applied in English to the ornamental tree Melia azedarach, likely influenced by its association with Asia and its berry-like fruits”
Modern English
English
chinaberry
“The common name for Melia azedarach, an ornamental but poisonous tree”