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.

---

muscadine British  

/ -ˌdaɪn, ˈmʌskədɪn /

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

---

Etymology

Origin of muscadine

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

Example Sentences

Unlike most wines on the menus of Southern restaurants, muscadine doesn’t have to travel long distances to make it to a wine drinker’s glass in, for example, Tennessee.

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 object of the walk was a wild vineyard where the muscadine grew.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison