cherry 
the horny pit (cf. cornel). Traditionally, the 
name is referred to Cerasus, L. Cerasus, Or. 
Kepaaoiic, an ancient town in Pontus, where 
the cherry-tree was native.] I. . ; pi. cher- 
ries (-iz). 1. The fruit of species of Ci-rn/mn 
(which is commonly regarded as a subgenus 
of Prunun), consisting of a globose pulpy 
drupe inclosing a one-seeded smooth stone; 
also, a tree producing this fruit. The cultivated 
varieties of tlM gftrdeD-cherry probably all belong to two 
specif*, /VI//IN.V r.r<r.".v jiii'l /'. iifitiiu, both iloubth-ss 
natives of Europe. It is related by I'llny that this fruit 
or a cultivated variety of it was brought from C'erasiis 
in Pontus to Italy after tha defeat of Mithridates by Lu- 
cullus, about 7U u. c. It was Introduced Into England by 
the Komans about 120 years afterward. There are many 
kindd, a-i tlie red-, bhu-k-, and white-hearts, the Mayduke, 
bigaroon, morello, Kentish, etc. The wild or crab cherry, 
mazard or gean of Great Britain, is a wild state of the 
Prunu* aviuia, which is also found in various other parts 
of Europe. From the fruit of its dilferent varieties several 
highly esteemed cordials are prepared, as the maraschino 
of Italy, the ratatla of France, the kirschwasser of Ger- 
many, etc. To this group of cherries, distinguished li.v 
having their Jlowers and fruits In clusters, belong also the- 
inahali'h cherry (P. Mahaleb) of Europe, with very fra- 
grant (lowers, and the ground -cherry (A Chamcecerasttx), 
as well as the wild red cherry (/'. Pennjtylvanica) and tin- 
dwarf cherry (P. puinila)ut North America. A second 
section of the genus has the flowers in racemes, and the 
fruit smaller and lesj palatable. To this belong the bird- 
cherry (P. Padiu) of Europe, and the wild black cherry, 
also called the rum- or cabinet-cherry (P. serotina), and the 
choke-cherry (P. firffiaiaaa) of America. Still a third sec- 
tion consists of evergreen trees, with the flowers in racemes 
and the fruit inedible, including the bastard cherry, bay- 
cherry, or laurel-cherry (P. Lauro-Cerasutt)ot Europe, and 
the Carolina laurel-cherry (P. Caroliniana)ot the southern 
United .States. 
2. A name given to many different kinds of 
fruit which bear some resemblance to the com- 
mon cherry. See phrases below. 3. (a) The 
wood of the cherry-tree. That of the wild black 
cherry, Pi'unus serotina, of the United States is a light, 
h;inl. strong wood of a reddish color, largely used and 
highly esteemed for cabinet-work, interior finishing, etc. 
(6) In Australia, the fine-grained wood of Eu- 
genia myrtifolia, and especially the very hard, 
compact, and durable wood of Exocarpus cu- 
pressiformis, used in ship-building and other 
strong work. 4. A cutter or countersink used 
in making bullet-molds Barbados, cowhagre.or 
West Indian Cherry, the fruit of species of Malpirjhia 
and Biimhnsia. Bastard cherry, of Jamaica, the Ehre- 
tia tinifolia. Beech- or brush-cherry, of Australia, 
the Trochocarpa (ourina. Broad-leafed cherry, of Ja- 
maica, Cordia macrophylla.Claxumy cherry, Cordia 
Culliicocca. Cornelian cherry, the fruit of Comwa 
matt, the cornel-tree. It is a smnll, ncld, cherry-like, 
edible berry. Dog-cherry .the fruit of a species of dog- 
wood, Cormut sanguinea. Dwarf cherry, the fruit of 
Lonicera, or honeysuckle. Hottentot cherry, the fruit 
of Cassiiie Maurocfnia, a South African plant related to 
the American yaupon, Ilex Camrine. It is a trispermous 
berry of a dark-purple color. Jamaica cherry, Ficu* 
pedunculate. Jerusalem Cherry, an ornamental plant, 
Solatium Psntdo-caimcum, and its fruit. Also called win- 
ter-cherry. Winter-Cherry, (a) The fruit of Physalis 
Alkekenffi. See alkekenyi. (b) Same as Jerusalem cherry. 
Zulu Cherry, of South Africa, Dombeya Burgessice. 
II. a. 1. Like a red cherry in color ; red; rud- 
dy ; blooming : as, a cherry lip ; cherry cheeks. 
Shore's wife hath a pretty foot, 
A cherry lip, a bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue. 
Shah., Rich. III., I. 1. 
2. Made of cherry-wood : as, a cherry table. 
cherrit 
impart a 
cherry 1 (cher'i), '. *. ; pret. and pp. cherried, 
' To 
ppr. 'cherrying. [< cherry^, n.] 
cherry color to ; redden. 
Close in her Closet, with her best Complexions, 
Shee mends her Faces wrinkle-full defections, 
Her Cheek shee cherries, and her Ey shee cheers, 
And fains her (fond) a Wench of fifteen yeers. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., Decay. 
Cherry 2 ! (cher'i), v. t. [As if directly < OF. 
cherir : see cherish.] A modification of clierisli. 
Sweet Goddesses all three, which me in mirth do cherry ! 
Spenser, F. Q., VI. x. 22. 
cherry-bird (cher'i-berd), w. 1. A book-name 
of the European oriole or pirol, Oriolus galbu- 
la. 2. The Carolina waxwing, or cedar-bird, 
Ampelis cedrorum. See Ampelis and waxwing. 
cherry-blight (cher'i-blit), n. An ascomycetous 
fungus, I'odosphaira Oxyacanthce, of the family 
The white mycelium grows over the surface 
of the leaf, and the perithecia produced upon it have radi- 
ating appendages branched at the tips. Each perithecium 
contains one ascus, in which several spores are formed. 
cherry-bounce (cher'i-bouns'), n. A popular 
cordial, consisting of burned brandy in which 
cherries have been steeped with sugar. Also 
called cherry-cordial. 
Yea, of ehcrry-botmce quantum suff. and old Oporto a 
couple of magnums : that's my physic. 
Morton, Secrets worth Knowing, ii. 1. 
Cherry-brandy (cher'i-bran'di), M. 1. Brandy 
in which cherries have been steeped. 2. A 
cordial made of spirit flavored with syrup of 
cherries. 
949 
cherry-coal (cher'i-kol), n. A variety of bitu- 
minous coal which is moderately lustrous, has 
a somewhat conchoidal fracture, and readily 
breaks up into cuboidal fragments, it is inter- 
mediate in character between coking coal and splint coal, 
retaining its shaj>e until thoroughly consumed, and not 
coking. 
cherry-cob (cher'i-kob), n. A cherry-stone. 
[Prov. Eng.j 
cherry-coffee (eher'i-kof'e), . The coffee-ber- 
ry .-i s i t comes from the tree, before the pulp has 
been removed or the seeds have been dried. 
cherry-colored (cher'i-kul'ord), a. Of a red- 
dish color resembling that of the common red 
cherry; cerise. 
She w ore one of her own ronnd-ear'd caps, and over It a 
little straw-hat, lined with cherry-colour d silk, and tied 
with a cherry-colour'd ribbon. Fielding, Joseph Andrews. 
cherry-cordial (cher'i-kor'dial), n. Same as 
flu n'lj-bounce. 
cherry-gum (cher'i-gurn), . Cerasin. 
cherry-laurel (cher i-la"rel), . The English 
iiamo of Cerasus Lauro-Cerasus, natural order 
Rosacca:, a native of Asia Minor, it is commonly 
called laurel, but must not be confounded with the sweet- 
bay or other true species of Laurus. The leaves yield by 
distillation hydrocyanic acid and an oil resembling that 
obtained from bitter almonds. The distilled water from 
the leaves Is used in medicine in the same way as diluted 
hydrocyanic or prussic acid. 
cherry-pepper (cher'i-pep'er), n. A species of 
Capsicum, C. cerasiforme, of the West Indies, 
whose fruit is small and cherry-shaped. 
cherry-pie (cher'i-pi'), n. 1. A pie made of 
cherries. 2. A popular name for the common 
heliotrope. 
"Did you ever smell cherry-pie so sweet before?" 
Heliotrope was a passion with old Andros Bartrand. 
Annie Edwardett, A Girtou Girl. 
cherry-pit (cher'i-pit), . 1. The stone or pit 
of a cherry. 2. A child's play, in which cher- 
ry-stones are thrown into a small hole. 
'Tis not for gravity to play at cherry-pit with Satan. 
Shalt., T. N., iii. 4. 
In the Eldorado, where urchins play at cherry-pit with 
diamonds. Scott, Kenilworth, I. i. 
cherry-rum (cher'i-rum'), n. Rum in which 
wild cherries have been steeped. 
cherry-stick (cher'i-stik), n. A tobacco-pipe 
tube, used with the Turkish chibouk, made of 
a young stem of the mahaleb cherry, bored and 
with the reddish-brown bark retained. Some- 
times these stems are five feet long, and as 
straight and smooth as if turned. 
cherry-stone (cher'i-ston), n. The stone-like 
seed of a cherry. 
cherry-tree (eher'i-tre), n. [< ME. cherytre, 
cheritre, chiritre, < AS. "ciris-tredw, cyrs-tredw 
(cf. ciris-bedm), cherry-tree, < ciris, cyrs, cherry, 
+ treow, tree.] A tree producing cherries. See 
cherry^. 
I proved have encrece of Chiritree. 
The yerdes [rods] that my vyne I sette unto 
Anoon hath growen up an huge tree. 
Palladiui, Husbondrie (E. E. T. S.), p. 194. 
cherry-wine (cher'i-win'), . A fermented li- 
quor made from cherry-juice with the addition 
of sugar and sometimes of flavoring ingredients. 
chersett, See churchesset. 
chersian (ker'si-an), n. [< Cliersu* + -ian.] A 
land-tortoise of the family Chersida;. Also 
cher site. 
chersid (ker'sid). n. Same as chersian. 
Chersidse (ker'8i-de). n. pi. [NL., < Chersus 
+ -id&.] The land-tortoises as a family of 
Chelonia : synonymous with Testudinidte. 
chersite (ker'sit), n. [NL., as Chersus + -tfe2.] 
Same as chersian. 
Chersobatae (ker-sob'a-te). n. pi. [NL., < Gr. 
Xepaoc., dry land, + -/3ar!7f, < /3atvetv (y */3o-), go. ] 
Another name of the Anabantidte. 
Chersonese (ker'so-nes or -nez), n. [< L. cher- 
sonesus, < Gr. x f P"^vnoof, < xp a S > land, dry land 
(as adj., dry), + vijaof, an island.] A peninsula ; 
a tract of land of any extent which is nearly 
surrounded by water, but is united to a larger 
tract by an isthmus. The ancient Thracian Cherso- 
nese was the peninsula of Galllpoli in European Turkey, 
between the Hellespont and the Kuran sea ; the Tauric 
Chersonese, the Crimea ; the Cimbric Chersonese, the pe- 
ninsula of Jutland in Denmark ; and the Golden Cherso- 
nese, in India, probably the peninsula of Malacca. These 
are the most prominent instances of the ancient use of 
the word in names ; but it was applied to many smaller 
bodies of land. Formerly also written chersoneis. 
The sea so circles there that it becomes a chersoncss. 
Sir T. Herbert, Travels, p. 35. 
And, on the other side, Hayle's vaster mouth doth make 
A chenonese thereof. Drayton, Polyolbion, I. 83. 
Ohersus (ker'sus), n. [NL. (Wagler, 1830), < 
Gr. xtpf, adj., dry, xtpat> n., dry land, > xep- 
chernbin 
, of dry land, living or found thereon, x e - 
x c Paia, a land-tortoise.] The typical ge- 
nus of the family Chersida;. 
Chersydrus (Mr-sid'rus), . [NL., < Gr. **>">- 
t/ioc, an amphibious serpent, < ^-tpo-of, dry land, 
T i/Jpof, a water-snake, \ u&up, water.] A genus 
of aquatic wart-suakes, family Acrwlmnlutir, 
having the hinder part of the body compn 
with a fold of skin beneath the abdomen and 
the tail. C. tjranulatux is un East Indian species, re- 
sembling in habits the very venomous water-snakes, liy- 
dntphidie, though it is perfectly harmless. 
chert (chert), . [Cf. E. dial. (Kentish) chart, 
common rough ground overrun with shrubs; 
charly, churty, = cherty, rough or rocky; Sw. 
dial, kart, a pebble. Prob. of Celtic origin : cf. 
Ir. ceart, a pebble, carrach, rocky, Gael, carr, 
a shelf of rock, \V. careg, a stone: see car 3 , 
fiiirn, and crag 1 .] A cryptocrystalline variety 
of quartz, also called hornstone, petrosilcx, or 
rock-flint. It is less hard than quartz crystal, has usu- 
ally a conchoidal or slightly splintery fracture, Is com- 
monly gray-brown or black In color, and is often some- 
what translucent. It frequently occurs in layers or con- 
cretionary nodules, especially in limestone rocks. The 
name is also applied to any impure flinty rock, including 
the jaspers. 
cherty (cher' ti), a. [<. chert + -y 1 .] Like chert; 
full of chert ; flinty. 
cherub (cher'ub), w. ; pi. cherubim, cherubs (-8- 
bim, -ubz). [= D. G. Dan. Sw. cherub (in Bom. 
in dim. form: see clierubin 1 ), < LL. cherub, pi. 
cherubim, < Heb. k'riibh, pi. k'rubhim, a cherub: 
supposed to be of foreign origin ; connected by 
some with Assyrian Icirubu, a name of the steer- 
god, the winged guardian at the entrance of As- 
syrian palaces. The pi. cherubim occurs earlier 
in the aecom. form clterubin. A double E. pi. 
cherabims occurs in the Bible and elsewhere.] 1 . 
One of an order of angels variously represent- 
ed at different times, but generally as winged 
spirits with a human countenance (often simply 
as winged heads), and distinguished by their 
knowledge from the seraphs, whose distinctive 
quality is love. In the celestial hierarchy cherubs are 
represented as next in order to seraphs. The first men- 
tion of cherubs is in Gen. iii. 24, where their figure Is not 
described, but their office was, with a flaming sword, to 
keep or guard the way of the tree of life. Figures of a 
pair of cherubs were placed on the mercy -seat of the ark, 
and a pair of colossal size overshadowed it in Solomon's 
temple with the canopy of their contiguously extended 
wings. They are called "the cherubims of glory " (Heb. 
ix. 5), as on them the glory, when visible, rested. They 
were anointed with the holy oil, like the ark itself and 
the other sacred furniture. Their wings were stretched 
upward, and their faces turned " toward each other, and 
toward the mercy-seat." The cherubs seen in Ezekiel's 
vision had each four heads or faces, the hands of a man, 
and wings. The four faces were the face of a cherub, that 
of a man, that of a lion, and that of an eagle. They had 
the bodily form of a man. (Ezek. x.) The hferoglyphical 
and emblematical figures embroidered on the veils of the 
tabernacle were called "cherubims of cunning work" (Ei. 
xxvi. IX 
And he stegh [ascended] over cherubin. 
0. t'. Psalter, Ps. xviii. 10. 
But first and chiefest with thee bring 
Him that yon soars on golden wing, 
Guiding the fiery-wheeled throne, 
The Cherub Contemplation. 
Hilton, II Penseroso, 1. 54. 
On the entablature of the walls were seen thecAen/Wm 
with outstretched wings, the symbol of the power and 
immediate presence of Jehovah. 
V>mKanke, Univ. Hist, (trans.), p. 54. 
2. A beautiful child : so called because in paint- 
ing and sculpture cherubs are generally repre- 
sented as beautiful winged children. [In this 
sense the plural is always cherubs.] 
cherubic (che-r8'bik), o. [< cherub + -ic.] Per- 
taining to or resembling cherubs ; angelic : as, 
cherubic host ; cherubic watch ; cherubic songs. 
Milton CherabiC hymn, a hymn beginning with the 
words " We who mystically represent the Cherubim," and 
concluding with a triple Alleluiah," sung at the great 
entrance in the liturgy of Constantinople, anil in other lit- 
urgies as modified by that. It is said to have been intro- 
duced into the service at the command of Justinian about 
the middle of the sixth century. Sometimes used as a 
name of the Sanctus or Tersanctus, properly called the 
seraphic hymn. 
cherubical (che-rd'bi-kal), a. Same as cheru- 
bic. 
The cherubical angel. Sheldon, Miracles, p. 162. 
cherubim, n. Plural of cherub. 
cherubimic (cher-6-bim'ik), a. [< cherubim + 
-ic.] Of or belonging to cherubim. 
cherubinH (cher 6 -bin), n. and o. [< ME. 
cherubyn, < OP. cherubin, F. cherubin = Sp. 
querubin = Pg. cherubim = It. cherubino, a 
cherub, dim. of LL. cherub : see cherub.] I. n. 
A cherub. 
A sompnour was ther with us in that place, 
That hadde a fyr-reed chentbynet face. 
Chaucer, Gen. ProL to C. T., L 824. 
