damson

American  

[dam-zuhn, -suhn] / ˈdæm zən, -sən /

noun

1. Also called damson plum.  the small, dark-blue or purple fruit of a plum, Prunus insititia, of the rose family, introduced into Europe from Asia Minor.

2. a medium to dark violet.

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adjective

1. of the color damson.

damson British  

/ ˈdæmzən /

noun

1. a small rosaceous tree, Prunus domestica instititia (or P. instititia ), cultivated for its blue-black edible plumlike fruit and probably derived from the bullace See also plum 1

2. the fruit of this tree

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Etymology

Origin of damson

1350–1400; Middle English damascene, damson < Latin ( prūnum ) Damascēnum (plum) of Damascus; see Damascene

Example Sentences

The Royal Lancaster London hotel near Hyde Park is serving afternoon tea inspired by Charles’ favorites: roast beef sandwiches, darjeeling tea and damson plum mousse.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 25, 2023

The tannins are a bit sturdy, but the fruit is expansive, with bright Bing cherry dominating, then yielding to damson plum and hints of sage and rosemary.

From Washington Post • Apr. 28, 2022

Meanwhile, all the other Tiptree jams—apricot, ginger, orange and tangerine, damson, gooseberry, quince, morello cherry, a lovely lemon curd marmalade in a shade that Roth calls “spectral yellow”—are available in the comparably reasonable eight-to-eleven-dollar range.

From The New Yorker • Jul. 15, 2018

They were in the priory orchard; the lines of plum trees and apple trees, of pear trees and damson trees, stood bare and neat and fast asleep under the moon.

From Slate • May 26, 2017

Three girls with lips stained damson and flowers in their hair.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor