huckleberry

== English == === Etymology === Probably an alteration of Middle English hurtilbery (“whortleberry”). American English from 1660s. === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhʌkl̩ˌbɛɹi/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhʌkl̩b(ə)ɹi/ === Noun === huckleberry (plural huckleberries) A small round fruit of a dark blue or red color, of several plants in the related genera Vaccinium and Gaylussacia. A shrub growing this fruit. A small amount, a short distance, as in the phrase huckleberry above a persimmon. (slang) A person of little consequence. (US, slang) The person one is looking for; the right person for the job. ==== Usage notes ==== While some Vaccinium species, such as Vaccinium parvifolium (red huckleberry), are always called huckleberries, other species may be called blueberries or huckleberries depending upon local custom. Usually, the distinction between them is that blueberries are white on the inside in most cases compared to huckleberries which vary from red to purple inside with a couple dozen tiny seeds. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === huckleberry (third-person singular simple present huckleberries, present participle huckleberrying, simple past and past participle huckleberried) (intransitive) To pick huckleberries. === See also === huckle === References === “*huckleberry”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.