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

Marguerite caught the greengage as neatly as it was thrown.

From Roden's Corner by Merriman, Henry Seton

You remember that we represented him by a football, while the earth was only a greengage plum.

From The Children's Book of Stars by Mitton, G. E. (Geraldine Edith)

My best plum was the greengage, rather a shy bearer but always in demand.

From Grain and Chaff from an English Manor by Savory, Arthur H.

Speaking of the greengage, he says, "its taste is so exquisitely sweet and delicious, that nothing can exceed it."

From On the Portraits of English Authors on Gardening, with Biographical Notices of Them, 2nd edition, with considerable additions by Felton, Samuel