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gean

American  
[geen] / gin /

noun

  1. heart cherry.


gean British  
/ ɡiːn /

noun

  1. Also called: wild cherry.  a white-flowered rosaceous tree, Prunus avium, of Europe, W Asia, and N Africa, the ancestor of the cultivated sweet cherries

  2. See sweet cherry

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gean

First recorded in 1525–35, gean is from the Middle French word guigne, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Alder and ash are the main tree species but there are also bird cherry and hazel and small numbers of wych elm, gean, holly, rowan and elder.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2014

The wood of the cherry tree is valued by cabinetmakers, and that of the gean tree is largely used in the manufacture of tobacco pipes.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various

Noo stright they went to Bethlehem, Wheer oor sweet Saviour lay; They fan' him iv a manger, Wheer oxen fed on hay, To seave wer sowls fra Sattan's power; Lang taam we've gean astray.

From Yorkshire Dialect Poems (1673-1915) and traditional poems by Moorman, Frederic William

In hot weather I wore gean pants and shirt.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Ohio Narratives by Work Projects Administration

The cherry is increased by budding on the wild gean, obtained by sowing the stones of the small black or red wild cherries.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various