plum tree

Plum Plum, n. [AS. pl[=u]me, fr. L. prunum; akin to Gr. ?, ?. Cf. {Prune} a dried plum.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Bot.) The edible drupaceous fruit of the {Prunus domestica}, and of several other species of {Prunus}; also, the tree itself, usually called {plum tree}. [1913 Webster]

The bullace, the damson, and the numerous varieties of plum, of our gardens, although growing into thornless trees, are believed to be varieties of the blackthorn, produced by long cultivation. --G. Bentham. [1913 Webster]

Note: Two or three hundred varieties of plums derived from the {Prunus domestica} are described; among them the {greengage}, the {Orleans}, the {purple gage}, or {Reine Claude Violette}, and the {German prune}, are some of the best known. [1913 Webster]

Note: Among the true plums are;

{Beach plum}, the {Prunus maritima}, and its crimson or purple globular drupes,

{Bullace plum}. See {Bullace}.

{Chickasaw plum}, the American {Prunus Chicasa}, and its round red drupes.

{Orleans plum}, a dark reddish purple plum of medium size, much grown in England for sale in the markets.

{Wild plum of America}, {Prunus Americana}, with red or yellow fruit, the original of the {Iowa plum} and several other varieties. [1913 Webster] Among plants called plum, but of other genera than {Prunus}, are;

{Australian plum}, {Cargillia arborea} and {Cargillia australis}, of the same family with the persimmon.

{Blood plum}, the West African {H[ae]matostaphes Barteri}.

{Cocoa plum}, the Spanish nectarine. See under {Nectarine}.

{Date plum}. See under {Date}.

{Gingerbread plum}, the West African {Parinarium macrophyllum}.

{Gopher plum}, the Ogeechee lime.

{Gray plum}, {Guinea plum}. See under {Guinea}.

{Indian plum}, several species of {Flacourtia}. [1913 Webster]

2. A grape dried in the sun; a raisin. [1913 Webster]

3. A handsome fortune or property; formerly, in cant language, the sum of [pounds]100,000 sterling; also, the person possessing it. [1913 Webster]

4. Something likened to a plum in desirableness; a good or choice thing of its kind, as among appointments, positions, parts of a book, etc.; as, the mayor rewarded his cronies with cushy plums, requiring little work for handsome pay [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

5. A color resembling that of a plum; a slightly grayish deep purple, varying somewhat in its red or blue tint. [PJC]

{Plum bird}, {Plum budder} (Zo["o]l.), the European bullfinch.

{Plum gouger} (Zo["o]l.), a weevil, or curculio ({Coccotorus scutellaris}), which destroys plums. It makes round holes in the pulp, for the reception of its eggs. The larva bores into the stone and eats the kernel.

{Plum weevil} (Zo["o]l.), an American weevil which is very destructive to plums, nectarines, cherries, and many other stone fruits. It lays its eggs in crescent-shaped incisions made with its jaws. The larva lives upon the pulp around the stone. Called also {turk}, and {plum curculio}. See Illust. under {Curculio}. [1913 Webster]