pearmain

pearmain

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman parmain, peremain et al., Middle French parmain, permain (“type of pear or apple”), of uncertain origin.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛːmeɪn/, /ˈpəːmaɪn/, /pəˈmeɪn/

Noun

pearmain (plural pearmains)

1. (obsolete) A type of pear.
2. Any of various types of apple, having an elongated shape and often with streaky skin.
   • 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, Oxford: Printed by Iohn Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 216894069; The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd corrected and augmented edition, Oxford: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, 1624, OCLC 54573970:

     , II.ii.1.1:

     Sweet fruits are best, as sweet cherries, plums, sweet apples, pearmains, and pippins, which Laurentius extols as having a peculiar property against this disease […].

   • 1826 June 30, Thomas Greene Fessenden (editor), The New England Farmer, Volume 4 [July 1825—July 1826], page 385,

     If it were not so, why, for instance, has not the pearmain — a better apple than the Baldwin or any other Massachusetts winter apple now known to me — been propagated as extensively, and brought in plenty to our markets?

   • 1833, John Claudius Loudon (editor), Art. VII: London Horticutural Society and Garden, Gardener's Magazine and Register of Rural and Domestic Improvement, Volume IX, page 727,

     Apples: Drap d'or, Barcelona pearmain; […] .

Translations

apple

German: Parmäne (de) f

Anagrams

• Amperian, pimarane