ELDER El"der, n. Etym: [OE. ellern, eller, AS. ellen, cf. LG. elloorn; perh. akin to OHG. holantar, holuntar, G. holunder; or perh. to E. alder, n.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of shrubs (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.

Note: The common North American species is Sambucus Canadensis; the common European species (S. nigra) forms a small tree. The red- berried elder is S. pubens. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient. Box elder. See under 1st Box. — Dwarf elder. See Danewort. — Elder tree. (Bot.) Same as Elder. Shak. — Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).

ELDERBERRY
El"der*ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The berrylike drupe of the elder. That of the Old World elder (Sambucus nigra) and that of the American sweet elder (S. Canadensis) are sweetish acid, and are eaten as a berry or made into wine.

ELDERISH
Eld"er*ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat old; elderly. [R.]

ELDERLY
Eld"er*ly, a.

Defn: Somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age; bordering on old age; as, elderly people.

ELDERN
El"dern, a.