Meanings
plural manzanitas
- Any evergreen shrub or tree of the genus Arctostaphylos, especially Arctostaphylos manzanita, having smooth red or orange bark and stiff, twisting branches.
The horse groaned and started his running walk down the trail; Uncle Charley pursued him, breaking a twig off a manzanita bush and handing it up to Monica, who flailed the sorry brute across the shoulders and rump.
1920, Peter B. Kyne, chapter VIII, in The Understanding Heart
Synonyms & antonyms
nounevergreen tree of the Pacific coast of North America having glossy leathery leaves and orange-red edible berries; wood used for furniture and bark for tanning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Spanishmanzanita
- Englishmanzanita
Borrowed from Spanish manzanita, so named because the fruits look like little apples.
More words from Spanish
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
manzanita. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/manzanita
“manzanita.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/manzanita. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “manzanita,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/manzanita.
Source: manzanita on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.