Main Entry:

quince

Pronunciation:

\ˈkwin(t)s\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English quynce quinces, plural of coyn, quyn quince, from Anglo-French coign, from Latin cotoneum, alteration cydonium, from Greek kydōnion

Date:

14th century

1 : the fruit of a central Asian tree (Cydonia oblonga) of the rose family that resembles a hard-fleshed yellow apple and is used especially in preserves 2 : a tree that bears quinces — compare Japanese quince

[quince illustration]