medlar

UK: /ˈmɛdlə/ US: (med′lər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

med•lar  (med′lər), n. 

1. a small tree, Mespilus germanica, of the rose family, the fruit of which resembles a crab apple and is not edible until the early stages of decay.
2. any of certain related trees.
3. the fruit of any of these trees.

• Greek méspilon) + -er -er²
• Latin mespilum
• Anglo-French, equivalent. to medle (Old French mesle the fruit
• Middle English medler 1325–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

medlar / ˈmɛdlə/ noun

1. a small Eurasian rosaceous tree, Mespilus germanica
2. the fruit of this tree, which resembles the crab apple and is not edible until it has begun to decay

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French medlier, from Latin mespilum medlar fruit, from Greek mespilon