Serviceberry
/ˈsɝː.vɪsˌbɛr.i/noun
A shrub or small tree in the genus Amelanchier that produces small edible berries.
Did you know?The name serviceberry is traditionally linked to the time it blooms in early spring, when roads were passable again for funeral services and religious gatherings, not to anything magical in the plant itself.
Etymological Timeline
Early 19th Century
English
serviceberry
“A North American name for Amelanchier, likely from the season of church services and funerals when it bloomed.”
18th Century
English
service tree
“A name used for similar-looking flowering trees, especially in dialect and regional usage.”
Middle English
English
service
“Religious service, ceremony, or act of worship.”
Old French
Old French
service
“Worship, duty, or attendance; also a religious service.”
Latin
Latin
servitium
“Condition of being a servant, slavery, service.”