muscadine

American  

[muhs-kuh-din, -dahyn] / ˈmʌs kə dɪn, -ˌdaɪn /

noun

1. a grape, Vitis rotundifolia, of the southern U.S., having dull purple, thick-skinned musky fruit and being the origin of many grape varieties.

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muscadine British  

/ ˈmʌskədɪn, -ˌdaɪn /

noun

1. a woody climbing vitaceous plant, Vitis rotundifolia, of the southeastern US

2. Also called: scuppernong.   bullace grape.  the thick-skinned musk-scented purple grape produced by this plant: used to make wine

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Etymology

Origin of muscadine

First recorded in 1535–45; muscad(el) + -ine ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

muscadine

As grape growers in climates slightly outside the traditional range of muscadine production face warmer weather, these qualities could make growing muscadines vastly more appealing in the coming years.

From Salon ● Apr. 2, 2024

Their findings could lead to better ways of producing hybrid seeds to maximize crop productivity, or to introduce seedlessness in fruit species lacking the often-desired trait, such as raspberries, blackberries or muscadine grapes.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2023

After half a century, the prison was abandoned and the land — apart from a police shooting range — was reclaimed by pines and privet, dewberry and muscadine vines.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 15, 2023

Some recipes are complex, like making wine from muscadine grapes, or stuffing shad with parsley rice and serving it with roe — a two-day effort.

From New York Times ● May 9, 2022

The scrap of song came from a woman’s throat, and Joe thrashed and beat his way up the incline and through the hedge, a tangle of muscadine vines, Virginia creeper and hibiscus rusty with age.

From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison