medlar

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: med=lar

CIDE DICTIONARY

medlar, n. [OE. medler medlar tree, OF. meslier, F. néflier, 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 (Cratægus Azarolus); also, its fruit.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

medlar, n.
1 a rosaceous tree, Mespilus germanica, bearing small brown apple-like fruits.
2 the fruit of this tree which is eaten when decayed.

Etymology

ME f. OF medler f. L mespila f. Gk mespile, -on