sloe

1. The small, astringent, wild fruit of the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).
2. The tree Prunus spinosa.
3. Any of various other plants of the genus Prunus, as a shrub or small tree, Prunus alleghaniensis, bearing dark-purple fruit.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsləʊ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: slo

Inherited from Old English: slā

In summary

From Middle English slo, sla, sloo, from Old English slā, slāh, from Proto-West Germanic *slaihā, from Proto-Germanic *slaihǭ, *slaihwō, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leh₃y- (“bluish”). Doublet of Sliwa.

Synonyms

blackthorn

Prunus spinosa

wild plum

Prunus alleghaniensis

Alleghany plum

Allegheny plum

bullace

blackthorn tree

wild plum tree

damson

cherry

dry

gin