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.
☞ 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.
Box elder. See under 1st Box. — Dwarf elder. See Danewort. — Elder tree. (Bot.) Same as Elder. Shak. — Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).