The DICT Development Group

  Elder \El"der\, n. [OE. ellern, eller, AS. ellen, cf. LG.
     elloorn; perh. akin to OHG. holantar, holuntar, G. holunder;
     or perh. to E. alder, n.] (Bot.)
     A genus of shrubs ({Sambucus) having broad umbels of white
     flowers, and small black or red berries.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     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. The
           European elder ({Sambucus nigra) is also called the
           elderberry, bourtree, Old World elder, black
           elder, and common elder.
           [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
  
     Box elder. See under 1st Box.
  
     Dwarf elder. See Danewort.
  
     Elder tree. (Bot.) Same as Elder. --Shak.
  
     Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).
        [1913 Webster]

  common elder
      n 1: a common shrub with black fruit or a small tree of Europe
           and Asia; fruit used for wines and jellies [syn:
           bourtree, black elder, common elder, elderberry,
           European elder, Sambucus nigra]