cape gooseberry
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Although it takes its name from the Cape, this plant originally came from S. America and its botanical name is Physalis peruviana* It is much prized for its decorative bladder-like calyx.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “cape gooseberry” mean?
Although it takes its name from the Cape, this plant originally came from S. America and its botanical name is Physalis peruviana* It is much prized for its decorative bladder-like calyx.
Is “cape gooseberry” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.