greengage

American  

[green-geyj] / ˈgrinˌgeɪdʒ /

noun

1. any of several varieties of light-green plums, as Prunus insititia italica.

---

greengage British  

/ ˈɡriːnˌɡeɪdʒ /

noun

1. a cultivated variety of plum tree, Prunus domestica italica, with edible green plumlike fruits

2. the fruit of this tree

---

Etymology

Origin of greengage

1715–25; green + Gage, after Sir William Gage, 18th-century English botanist who introduced such varieties from France circa 1725

Example Sentences

He once wrote about asking for the local guava jelly in one of Trinidad's intellectual clubs, only to be told that they only had English greengage jam.

From Time Magazine Archive

And apples, of course—three or four dozen of those good eaters—and a little pot of my greengage preserves—Edward'll like that.

From Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1902 to 1903 by Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud)

She held up her hand for a catch, and with resignation he threw her another greengage.

From Roden's Corner by Merriman, Henry Seton

My best plum was the greengage, rather a shy bearer but always in demand.

From Grain and Chaff from an English Manor by Savory, Arthur H.

By this path, too, grew the greengage trees.

From Leaves in the Wind by Gardiner, A. G. (Alfred George)