greengage

American  

[green-geyj] / ˈgrinˌgeɪdʒ /

noun

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

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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

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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

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.

The guava and the katumbill� are certainly very numerous throughout the Ouva district; the latter being a dark red, rough-skinned kind of plum, the size of a greengage, but free from stone.

From Eight Years' Wanderings in Ceylon by Baker, Samuel White, Sir

Marguerite caught the greengage as neatly as it was thrown.

From Roden's Corner by Merriman, Henry Seton

But still he called for some greengage tart.

From Kept in the Dark by Trollope, Anthony