chinaberry

English

Etymology

fruit of the chinaberry (Melia azedarach)

From China +‎ berry.

Noun

chinaberry (plural chinaberries)

1. (US) The bead tree or azedarach, Melia azedarach, a deciduous tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae, native to India, southern China and Australia, or its fruit.
2. (US) The soapberry (genus Sapindus, especially Sapindus saponaria), native to the Americas.
   • 1968, Charles Portis, True Grit:

     ‘The toilet is out back directly behind the chinaberry tree.’

3. (US) Actaea rubra, a poisonous herbaceous flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to North America.

Synonyms

• (Melia azedarach): azedarach, bakain, Persian lilac, Pride of India tree, white cedar, Cape lilac, syringa, bead tree
• (Actaea rubra): red baneberry, doll's eye

Translations

bead tree — see bead tree

soapberry — see soapberry