Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

medlar

noun
Save Word
med·​lar | \ ˈmed-lər How to pronounce medlar (audio) \

Definition of medlar

: a small deciduous Eurasian tree (Mespilus germanica) of the rose family whose fruit resembles a crab apple and is used in preserves also : its fruit

Examples of medlar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Like medlar, these fruits were popular hundreds of years ago. — Washington Post, "Try something new with uncommonly delicious (and ugly) fruit," 5 Nov. 2019 Local favorites include apfelwein, akin to dry French cider; Gin Sieben, a Frankfurt-style gin infused with seven specific herbs, including borage and sorrel; and mispelchen, a brandy made with medlar, a persimmon-like fruit. — Adam Erace, Fortune, "How to Get the Most Out of a Trip to Frankfurt," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'medlar.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of medlar

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for medlar

Middle English medeler, from Anglo-French medler, from medle medlar fruit, from Latin mespilum, from Greek mespilon

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about medlar

Time Traveler for medlar

Time Traveler

The first known use of medlar was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Statistics for medlar

Last Updated

24 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Medlar.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medlar. Accessed 10 December 2019.

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on medlar

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with medlar

Nglish: Translation of medlar for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about medlar

Comments on medlar

What made you want to look up medlar? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

reiterate

Listen to the pronounciation of reiterate

to state or do over again or repeatedly

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Semantic Drift Quiz

  • a twisty river
  • Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games