1.
[syn: medlar, medlar tree, Mespilus germanica]
The 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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Mespilus germanica
n 1: small deciduous Eurasian tree cultivated for its fruit that
resemble crab apples [syn: medlar, medlar tree,
Mespilus germanica]