medlar

medlar
/med"leuhr/, n.
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.
[1325-75; ME medler < AF, equiv. to medle (OF mesle the fruit < L mespilum < Gk méspilon) + -er -ER2]

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tree
 (species Mespilus germanica), tree of the rose family (Rosaceae), closely allied to the genus Pyrus, in which it is sometimes included. A native of Europe from The Netherlands southward and of western Asia, it occurs in middle and southern England as a small, much-branched, deciduous, spinous tree. The flowers are white or pink-tinged, with five petals. The fruit is globular but depressed above, with leafy, persistent sepals, and contains stones of a hemispheric shape. It is not fit to eat until it begins to decay; then it takes on an agreeable acid and somewhat astringent flavour. Several varieties are cultivated.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Medlar — may refer to: Either of the two tree species in the genus Mespilus, in family Rosaceae Crataegus azarolus, azarole, also called Mediterranean medlar, in family Rosaceae Eriobotrya japonica, the Japanese medlar or loquat, formerly called Mespilus… …   Wikipedia

  • Medlar — Med lar, n. [OE. medler medlar tree, OF. meslier, F. n[ e]flier, L. mespilum, mespilus, Gr. ?, ?. Cf. {Naseberry}.] A tree of the genus {Mespilus} ({Mespilus Germanica}); also, the fruit of the tree. The fruit is something like a small apple, but …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • medlar — small fruit bearing tree, mid 14c. (in reference to the fruit itself), from O.Fr. medler, variant of mesple, from L. mespila fruit of the medlar, from Gk. mespilion, a foreign word of unknown origin. The Old English name was openærs, lit. open… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Medlar — Medlar, s. Stöcke …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • medlar — ► NOUN ▪ a small brown apple like fruit. ORIGIN Old French medler, from Greek mespil …   English terms dictionary

  • medlar — [med′lər] n. [ME medler < OFr medler, meslier < mesle, the fruit < L mespilum < Gr mespilon] 1. a small tree (Mespilus germanica) of the rose family, growing in Europe and Asia 2. its small, brown, applelike fruit, hard and bitter… …   English World dictionary

  • Medlar — Recorded as Medlar, Medler and Midler, this is an English surname. It has two possible origins, both locational. The first is from the place called Medlar, a village in Lancashire, and recorded in the Cockersand Chartulary of 1215 as Midelarge .… …   Surnames reference

  • medlar — noun 1》 a small bushy tree of the rose family. [Mespilus germanica.] 2》 the small brown apple like fruit of the medlar, edible once it has begun to decay. Origin ME: from OFr. medler, from medle medlar fruit , from L. mespila, from Gk mespilē,… …   English new terms dictionary

  • medlar — baltažiedė šliandra statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Erškėtinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaisinis augalas (Mespilus germanica), paplitęs pietų Europoje ir centrinėje Azijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Mespilus germanica; Pyrus germanica angl. medlar;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • medlar — šliandra statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Erškėtinių (Rosaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Mespilus). atitikmenys: lot. Mespilus angl. medlar; medlar tree vok. Mispel rus. мушмула lenk. nieszpułka …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • medlar — noun Etymology: Middle English medeler, from Anglo French medler, from medle medlar fruit, from Latin mespilum, from Greek mespilon Date: 14th century a small deciduous Eurasian tree (Mespilus germanica) of the rose family whose fruit resembles a …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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