medlar

[ med-ler ]

noun

1. a small tree, Mespilus germanica, of the rose family, the fruit of which resembles a crab apple and is not edible until the early stages of decay.
2. any of certain related trees.
3. the fruit of any of these trees.

medlar

/ ˈmɛdlə /

noun

1. a small Eurasian rosaceous tree, Mespilus germanica
2. the fruit of this tree, which resembles the crab apple and is not edible until it has begun to decay
3. any of several other rosaceous trees or their fruits

Word History and Origins

Origin of medlar¹

1325–75; Middle English medler < Anglo-French, equivalent to medle ( Old French mesle the fruit < Latin mespilum < Greek méspilon ) + -er -er ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of medlar¹

C14: from Old French medlier, from Latin mespilum medlar fruit, from Greek mespilon

Example Sentences

And certainly a fine Medlar tree "ful of blossomes" is a handsome ornament on any lawn.

From Project Gutenberg

In the medlar the core (or true pericarp) is of a stony hardness, while the outer succulent covering is open at the summit.

From Project Gutenberg

Now the Stevenyne was full sixty years old, and had a face like a medlar, but all yellowed with bile and anger.

From Project Gutenberg

They made their way through the medlar trees and scrub to the plateau above, and, the height gained, they turned to look back.

From Project Gutenberg

The pod increases to the size of a large cob-nut or small medlar, and becomes brown as the woolly fruit ripens.

From Project Gutenberg