Until the early seventeenth century, the raspberry was known simply as raspis, a word of unknown origin that suddenly appeared in English in the early sixteenth century. Before this time, the raspberry was known as the hindberry, so called because it was thought to be eaten in the wild by hinds, or what we now call deer. As a name for the derisive sound produced by placing the tongue firmly between one’s lips and blowing—a synonym, in other words, for Bronx cheer—raspberry dates back about a hundred years. This sense of raspberry developed from Cockney rhyming slang, a code invented by London Cockneys in the nineteenth century in order to baffle outsiders and entertain each other. In Cockney rhyming slang, certain common terms are replaced by a phrase whose final word rhymes with the word being replaced. Rosy Lea, for example, takes the place of you and me, and butcher’s hook is used in place of look. Likewise, raspberry tart arose as a substitute for fart, and was so used until it was shortened to just raspberry. In time, raspberry came to refer not only to genuine venting of flatulence, but also to any imitation of the noise associated with that event.
The succulent fruit, both found in the wild and cultivated, hails from the prickly shrubs belonging to the Rubus genus. Native to North America and Europe, these exquisite fruits come in a variety of colors including red, purple, black, yellow, and white. Resembling small caps or thimbles, raspberries are celebrated for their juicy nature. In addition to their delightful taste, raspberries boast a noteworthy amount of vitamin C, adding to their nutritional appeal.