Juniper
/ˈdʒuːnɪpər/noun
An evergreen shrub or small tree with aromatic berries used for flavoring and medicine.
Did you know?Juniper’s name was already in Latin as a plant word, and its berries were long used in purification rites, medicine, and flavoring—making it one of the oldest “spiritual utility” plants in Europe.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*yeu-
“to be vigorous, youthful, alive”
Latin
Latin
iuniperus
“the juniper tree”
Late Latin
Latin
juniperus
“the juniper tree”
Old French
Old French
genièvre
“juniper”
Middle English
English
juniper
“juniper tree or berry”
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