damson

views updated May 23 2018

dam·son / ˈdamzən; -sən/ • n. 1. a small purple-black plumlike fruit. ∎ a dark purple color. 2. (also damson tree) the small deciduous tree of the rose family that bears this fruit.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

damson

views updated May 18 2018

damson Small dark purple plum (Prunus damascena); very acid and mainly used to make jam. An 80‐g portion provides 2.4 g of dietary fibre and supplies 30 kcal (125 kJ). Introduced into Europe by Crusaders returning from Damascus (early 13th century).

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition DAVID A. BENDER

damson

views updated May 18 2018

damson Small tree and its edible fruit. The name is often applied to varieties of plum (Prunus domestica), especially P.d. insititia. The fleshy drupe is generally borne in clusters, has a tart flavour, and is made into jam. Family Rosaceae. The damson-plum of tropical America is a separate species, Chrysophyllum oliviforme, Family Sapotaceae.

World Encyclopedia