Emily Dickinson Lexicon

berry (-'s, berries), n. [OE < ON 'grape'.] (webplay: bear, smaller, strawberry).

1. Small, globular, juicy fruit; sweet, succulent fruit with seeds.
2. Grape; fruit for making wine; [word play on “barrel”] cask; large vat.
3. Delicacy; dainty; tidbit; [fig.] forbidden fruit.
4. Gift; nourishment; [fig.] sacrifice; sacrament; life-giving food.
5. Olive; small, pulpy fruit with a stone; (see Isaiah 17:6).
6. Gems; precious stones; [fig.] wealth; riches; [possible word play on “beryl”.]
7. Sweet morsel; bit of food.
8. Phrase. “Black Berry”: blackberry; edible wild currant; dark fruit of the bramble; [fig.] Christ; the crucified Savior.