medlar

[ med-ler ]

noun

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.

medlar

/ ˈmɛdlə /

noun

1. a small Eurasian rosaceous tree, Mespilus germanica
2. the fruit of this tree, which resembles the crab apple and is not edible until it has begun to decay
3. any of several other rosaceous trees or their fruits

Word History and Origins

Origin of medlar¹

1325–75; Middle English medler < Anglo-French, equivalent to medle ( Old French mesle the fruit < Latin mespilum < Greek méspilon ) + -er -er ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of medlar¹

C14: from Old French medlier, from Latin mespilum medlar fruit, from Greek mespilon

Example Sentences

Most people have never heard of the medlar tree.

From Seattle Times

Ten minutes later, a bamboo basket of fragrant steamed shrimp dumplings, a pot of tea and a plate of tonic medlar and petal cake were delivered – all for £7.70.

From The Guardian

“And medlar fruit is definitely something I’m tempted to plant.”

From New York Times

The fruit of the pear is of a higher colour and smaller on the quince stock than on the wild pear; still more so on the medlar.

From Project Gutenberg

Of fruit trees the apple, pear, plum, cherry, medlar, pomegranate, fig, quince, as well as two kinds of vine, grow wild; oranges, sweet and bitter, and other Aurantiaceae thrive well in gardens and plantations.

From Project Gutenberg