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

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

A plum or greengage would cost three shillings; cherries and grapes about five, I believe, but this is at some of the dearest shops.

From Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters A Family Record by Austen-Leigh, William

There’ll be all the heads of the herrings and the greengage stones— jolly blow-out for you.”

From The Willoughby Captains by Reed, Talbot Baines

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)