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Medlar

//ˈmɛdlə// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Mespilus germanica, common medlar (now often Crataegus germanica).
  2. 2
    crabapple-like fruit used for preserves wordnet
  3. 3
    Any tree of the genus Mespilus, now Crataegus sect. Mespilus, including many species now in other genera.
  4. 4
    a South African globular fruit with brown leathery skin and pithy flesh having a sweet-acid taste wordnet
  5. 5
    Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:; Stern's medlar (Crataegus × canescens: family Rosaceae).
Show 10 more definitions
  1. 6
    small deciduous Eurasian tree cultivated for its fruit that resemble crab apples wordnet
  2. 7
    Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:; Mediterranean medlar or azarole (Crataegus azarolus: family Rosaceae).
  3. 8
    small deciduous tree of southern Africa having edible fruit wordnet
  4. 9
    Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:; Japanese medlar or loquat (Eriobotrya japonica: family Rosaceae).
  5. 10
    Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:; Spanish medlar or bulletwood (Mimusops elengi: family Sapotaceae).
  6. 11
    Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:; African medlar (Vangueria infausta: family Rubiaceae).
  7. 12
    Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:; Wolfberry, goji, red medlar (Lycium spp.).
  8. 13
    The fruit of such trees, similar to small apples
  9. 14
    The fruit of such trees, similar to small apples:; Especially that of Crataegus sect. Mespilus, not eaten until it has begun to decay, or more specifically, to blet.
  10. 15
    A woman or a woman's genitalia (as the fruit's appearance resembles an "open-arse"). derogatory

    "I was once before him for getting a wench with child....but I was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar."

Etymology

From Middle English medler, medeler, from Old French medler, meslier, from medle, mesdle (“medlar fruit”), from Latin mespilum, from Ancient Greek μέσπιλον (méspilon). Related to the rare mesple, via Proto-West Germanic *mespilā. Displaced Old English openærs (“open-arse”) (and similar names, from anatomical comparison).

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