medlar

2 definitions found

medlar - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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 has a bony endocarp. When first gathered the flesh
     is hard and austere, and it is not eaten until it has begun
     to decay.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Japan medlar (Bot.), the loquat. See Loquat.
  
     Neapolitan medlar (Bot.), a kind of thorn tree (Crataegus  Azarolus
        ); also, its fruit.
        [1913 Webster]

medlar - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  medlar
      n 1: small deciduous tree of southern Africa having edible fruit
           [syn: wild medlar, wild medlar tree, medlar,
           Vangueria infausta]
      2: small deciduous Eurasian tree cultivated for its fruit that
         resemble crab apples [syn: medlar, medlar tree, Mespilus   germanica
         ]
      3: a South African globular fruit with brown leathery skin and
         pithy flesh having a sweet-acid taste
      4: crabapple-like fruit used for preserves