dingleberry

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Noun 1.1.1 Synonyms 1.1.2 Translations 1.1.3 References

English

Noun

dingleberry (plural dingleberries)

1. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) Vaccinium erythrocarpum, the Southern Mountain Cranberry.^[1]
   • 1988, S.P. Vander Kloet, The Genus Vaccinium in North America^[1], ISBN 0660130378, page 6:

     Vaccinium erythrocarpum, the dingleberry, sometimes produces berries of excellent flavor, which are used locally for jellies; Uphof (1968) reports that this species has been recommended for cultivation.

2. (dated, manufacturing) Any residual irregularity following processing
   • 1951, Charles Diehl, "Method for Welding a Joint", US Patent 2747065 ^[2], page 3:

     The contour of the root bead is very irregular and solidified drops of metal, "cherries" or "dingleberries," extend therefrom evidencing burn-throughs.

   • 1966 May 20, “Stymied by Seniority”^[3], Time:

     That still left the problem of deciding on the "dingleberries"—the employees who would be exempt from seniority restrictions because of "special skills and outstanding abilities."

   • 1967, M.R. Calton, "Welding of Dispersion-Strengthened Alloys", US Patent 3477117 ^[4], page 6:

     It is theorized that when the surface velocity is below certain minimum values the material at the interface between workpieces WP-1 and WP-2 rolls up and extrudes from the interface in the form of long twisted cylindrical projections which are sometimes referred to as "dingle-berries."

3. (slang) A small piece of feces clumped to hair around the anus.
4. (slang) A stupid person.

Synonyms

• (cranberry): arando, bearberry
• (stupid person): idiot, moron
• (piece of faeces): (Australia) dag, (Australia) dags

Translations

References

• Notes:

1. ^ “dingleberry n” listed on page 73 of the Dictionary of American Regional English by Frederic Gomes Cassidy and Joan Houston Hall (1985; Harvard University Press; ISBN 0674205111, 9780674205116)