'barberry' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'berberis'.

'barberry' changed from Medieval Latin 'berberis' through Old French (e.g. 'berberis'/'berberie') into Middle English forms such as 'berberie' and eventually became the modern English word 'barberry'.

Initially, it referred to the plant of the genus Berberis, and over time the basic meaning has remained largely the same as 'a shrub producing acid red berries'.