Jū'ni-per, n.

n. [Lat. juniperus. See GENEVA.] (Bot.) An evergreen coniferous shrub or tree, of the genus Juniperus.

The common juniper (J. communis), is a shrub of a low, spreading form, having awl-shaped, rigid leaves in whorls of threes, and bearing small purplish-blue berries, of a warm, pungent taste, yielding, by fermentation, a spirituous liquor called gin. A resin exudes from the bark by incision, which has commonly been considered as sandarach, and is used as pounce. The oil of juniper is acrid, and used for various purposes, as in medicine, for making varnish, &c. The wood is of a reddish color, hard and durable, and is used in cabinet work and veneering.