medlar

Meaning

1. Mespilus germanica, common medlar (now often Crataegus germanica).
2. Any tree of the genus Mespilus, now Crataegus sect. Mespilus, including many species now in other genera.
3. Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:
4. Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:
5. Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:
6. Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:
7. Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:
8. Any of several similar trees that bear similar fruit:
9. The fruit of such trees, similar to small apples
10. The fruit of such trees, similar to small apples:
11. (derogatory) A woman or a woman's genitalia (as the fruit's appearance resembles an "open-arse").

Synonyms

wild medlar

wild medlar tree

Mespilus germanica

Vangueria infausta

loquat

medlar tree

naseberry

Chinese wolfberry

common medlar

nisberry

Translations

nèfle

nespola

Mispel

níspero

nêspera

muşmula

néflier

nespolo

mispel

μούσμουλο

nespra

Mespilus germanica

Mespilus germanica

nespolo comune

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmɛdlə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: medler

In summary

From Middle English medler, medeler, from Old French medler, meslier, from medle, mesdle (“medlar fruit”), from Latin mespilum, from Ancient Greek μέσπιλον (méspilon). Related to the rare mesple, via Proto-West Germanic *mespilā. Displaced Old English openærs (“open-arse”) (and similar names, from anatomical comparison).