| 释义 |
plumn.adj.2 Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Saxon plūm , Middle Low German (chiefly north.) plūme , plumme , plomme (German regional (Low German) plumme , pluum , (Low German: East Friesland) plūm , plume ), Old High German (chiefly late) pflūma (Middle High German phlūme , German Pflaume ), apparently variants of older forms with initial pr- : compare Middle Dutch prūme , pruum , pruym , pruyme (Dutch pruim , †pruyme ), Middle Low German (chiefly Westphalia) prūme , prumme , prūne (German regional (Low German: Hamburg) prumme , pruum (rare)), Old High German pfrūma (earliest in the compound pfrūmboum plum tree; Middle High German phrūme (only in the compound phrūmboum , phrūmenboum plum tree); German (now regional (southern), rare) Pfraume ) (for possible evidence of a form in Old English see note below); further etymology uncertain and disputed. The Germanic word is usually considered an early Latin loan, but the exact relationship with post-classical Latin pruna (see prune n.) is unclear; the phonological development is difficult to explain with regard both to the -m- in all of the Germanic forms, and to the initial pl- in many of them (the -m- has been variously explained as occurring in the earliest borrowing language or already in the donor language, but none of the many conflicting views is generally accepted). The change of pr- to pl- is found only in the Germanic forms and in post-classical Latin texts written in England; compare e.g. post-classical Latin plumum , plunas (perhaps for plunus ) in Corpus Gloss. (c800), plumnus in Cleopatra Gloss. (c950), the last two forms glossed as ‘plum tree’. In the Romance languages forms with medial -m- are widespread in Franco-Provençal and neighbouring dialects of French and Occitan, and also occur sporadically in Italian dialects (see Französisches etymol. Wörterbuch s.v. prūnum), but it is unclear whether they are influenced by the Germanic word or vice versa. Some scholars have suggested direct borrowing < ancient Greek προῦμνον (see prune n.) or a variant of this into Germanic, but it is unclear in which region the necessary direct linguistic contact between Germanic tribes and speakers of Greek would have occurred. For a general summary of opinions see A. H. Feulner Die griechischen Lehnwörter im Altenglischen (2000) 408–10.Compare also Old Icelandic plóma (rare; < either Old English or Middle Low German; Icelandic plóma , pluma , plumma ), and (apparently < Middle Low German) Old Swedish ploma (only in the compounds plomo kiärne plum-stone, plomo trä plum tree; Swedish (now regional) ploma , plomma , Swedish plommon (with alteration of the ending after names of berries and fruits in -on , e.g. lingon (see lingonberry n.)), early modern Danish plomme , blomme (Danish blomme ). Most of the Germanic words denote only the fruit; the sense ‘plum tree’ appears to be unparalleled except in Dutch (where it is first attested relatively late: early 18th cent.), and in Middle Low German. The α forms with long vowel are now regional (northern English and Scots); the β. forms, which show shortening of the vowel, are found from the late 14th cent. (compare e.g. thumb n.). (Some forms are ambiguous, e.g. Middle Englishand early modern English plome , early modern English and Older Scots plume probably represent a short vowel.) Shortening of the vowel is also seen in the forms with -mm- spellings in Middle Low German, German regional (Low German), Icelandic, Swedish, and Danish. In Old English a doublet form plȳme is also attested (in senses A. 1 and A. 2; compare quot. OE at sense A. 1α. ), apparently < an unattested post-classical Latin *prunea (compare Italian prugna plum, prugno plum tree). This doublet apparently did not survive into Middle English; however, it is probably attested in several south-western place names, as Plymentun (c1500 in a copy of a charter of c900; now Plympton, Devon), Plimtre (1219; now Plymtree, Devon), and the river name Plyme (1238; now Plym, Devon). The possible existence of an Old English (Kentish) by-form *prūme (matching the continental Germanic forms in pr-) has been inferred from the following place-name evidence: Prunhelle (12th cent.), Promhelle (c1195), Prumhelle (c1200), now Broomhill, Sussex. Irish pluma, Welsh plwmws plums, (with singulative suffix) plwmsen, plwmen are apparently < English. A. n. I. The fruit or tree and related uses. the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > stone fruit > [noun] > plum the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > stone fruit > plum the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > prunus trees or shrubs > [noun] α. eOE (1890) 94/1 Plumum, plumae. OE Ælfric (Royal 15 B.xxii) 20 Hoc prunum, seo plume [OE St. John's Oxf. plyme]. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer (Hunterian) 1375 Medlers, plowmes, perys. 1511 in J. B. Paul (1902) IV. 309 To ane frutt sellar..for gewin plowmez to the King. 1591 (?a1425) Shepherds (Huntington) in R. M. Lumiansky & D. Mill (1974) I. 153 (MED) To pull downe apples, payres, and ploomes..I give thee here my nuthooke [v.r. nutthocke]. 1638 30 For ploumes that my laidy lost att the dyce. ?c1800 Drowsy Lane in F. J. Child (1884) I. ii. 303/2 The een that was in our bride's head Was like twa rotten plooms [rhyme gloom]. 1828 W. Carr (ed. 2) Ploum, a plum. 1907 in at Plum sb. Mod. Sc. Soor plooms. 1962 Galloway News Nov. in www.old-kirkudbright.net (O.E.D. Archive) They tried tae sell us berries that were ripe (baith red and green), And aiples, plooms and pears they'd sell tae every passer-by. 2. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fruit-tree or -plant > [noun] > trees or plants bearing stone fruit > plum-tree eOE (1974) 43 Prunus, plumae. eOE (1890) 97/1 Prunus, plumę. ?a1425 (Huntington) 70 (MED) Lyndes and lorers were bred vp-on lone..The palme and þe popeler, þe perer and the plowine [read plowme; c1390 Vernon plone, c1400 Simeon plone, ?c1450 Ingilby plane]. ?c1475 (BL Add. 15562) f. 97v A Plowme..prunus, i. Arbor. 1657 R. Austen (ed. 2) 66 It is the custome (of late); to make..hedges of Quodlings, Nursgardens, Plums, Vines, and such like trees. 1719 J. Chamberlayne tr. B. Nieuwentyt II. xxiii. 725 If an Abricot be grafted upon a Plumb. 1785 T. Martyn tr. J.-J. Rousseau vii. 79 The genus Plum, comprehending the Apricot and Cherry. 1813 C. Marshall (ed. 5) vii. 86 The cions of pears, plums, and cherries may be cut from the middle to the end of January. 1850 20 24 In some gardens they have the pomegranate, the peach, the apricot, and the plum. 1899 N. Hopper in 1 Mar. 10/1 Blossom on the plum,..Leaves upon the cherry. 1938 K. A. Porter 15 June (1990) iv. 166 There are peaches, plums, pomegranates, figs, oranges, grape fruit, thirty young saplings all flourishing. 1960 30 47 Thickets of plum, young cottonwood and elm are often so dense that there is no undergrowth. 1989 XVII. 625/1 Popular [in Chinese art] among the many symbols drawn from the plant world are the orchid..the plum, which blossoms even in the snow and stands for constancy. society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > wood of specific trees > [noun] > wood of fruit trees > others 1902 G. S. Boulger 296 Woods of Commerce... Plum, Sour (Owénia vénosa..). Queensland. Known as ‘Tulip-wood’... Highly coloured. 1920 A. L. Howard 228 Plum..is a very handsome wood..reddish-brown, with darker and lighter streaks of the same colour. 1948 F. H. Titmuss 110 Another timber known as ‘Plum’ is the Sapodilla Plum. This hardwood timber is not of the same botanical family as that producing the true Plum. 2004 (Nexis) 6 Mar. (Mag.) 42 Specialising in ‘anything made out of country fruit woods like cherry, pear and plum, mostly 18th and 19th-century farm tables’. 3. With distinguishing word. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > stone fruit > plum > other types of 1530 J. Palsgrave 232/2 Horse plome, frute, jorroise. 1597 J. Gerard iii. cxx. 1312 The Almond Plum groweth vp to the height of a tree of a meane bignesse. 1611 R. Cotgrave Damaisine, a Damascene, or Damsen plum. 1626 F. Bacon §509 All your dainty Plummes, are a little dry, and come from the Stone; As the Muscle-Plumme. 1707 J. Mortimer (1721) II. 298 The black Damascen, the Morocco, the Barbary, the Myrobalan, the Apricock Plumb, a delicate Plumb that parts clean from the Stone. 1709 J. Lawson 105 The wild Plums of America are of several sorts. 1785 H. Marshall 111 Prunus americana. Large Yellow Sweet Plumb. This generally rises to the height of twelve or fifteen feet. 1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore II. 933 P[runus] myrobalana, which is named Cherry Plum, probably from its colour, is a species from Canada. 1884 11 135 Then it gradually and rapidly changed, so that by the 18th it had assumed the shade of a damson plum. 1912 42 390 The tree grows to an enormous height..; its fruit in shape resembles an enormous Victoria plum, about 1 foot in length. 1953 34 339 The Iroquois of New York planted the Canada plum, Prunus nigra. 1989 A. Willan iv. 456/1 The mirabelle plum is a particularly sweet and fragrant golden-gage used extensively for bottling and preserving. 1699 W. Dampier ii. iv. 107 There are also some Coco-Plums and Grapes, but not many. 1699 J. Dickenson 32 Indian Women, loaden with..Sea-side Cocco-Plumbs, and Sea-side Grapes. 1740 (Royal Soc.) 40 376 I have one form'd round the stone of that great Plum, which comes picked from thence, and is called Mango. 1788 P. Marsden 78 The Hog Plumb is a native of the island, grows in the fences as the sloes with us, is not unpleasant to the taste. 1824 J. Sabine in 5 452 Gingerbread Plum, Parinarium macrophyllum. 1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore I. 223 The Black Plum of Hiawarra (Cargillia australis)..is a slender tree..; the fruits are the size of a large plum, and of dark purple colour. 1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore I. 223 The Grey Plum (Cargillia arborea) grows to a height of fifty or a hundred feet. 1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore II. 846 The fruit of P[arinarium] excelsum is about the size of an Imperatrice plum, covered with a rough skin of a greyish colour, and commonly called the Rough-skin or Grey Plum. 1889 J. H. Maiden 49 Queensland Plum, Sweet Plum. This plant bears a fine juicy red fruit with a large stone. 1907 T. R. Sim 145 In Transvaal..it [sc. Dombeya rotundifolia] is known as Wild plum on account of the similarity of the flowering bush to a plum tree. 1971 17 ii. 14 Different name, same referent..golden apple/Jew plum/pomme-citerre. 4. the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > dried fruit > [noun] > raisin 1653 J. Lilburne 8 For Mr. Hall it is thought that he is Takeing of Phisick and spitting his plumbs to Cheare his throat. 1725 I. Watts i. vi. §6 A grocer is a man who buys and sells sugar, and plumbs, and spices, for gain. 1755 S. Johnson Plum,..2. Raisin; grape dried in the sun. a1774 A. Tucker (1777) III. iv. 504 Children to whom you give a pill wrapped up in a raisin, will suck the plumb and spit out the medicine. 1804 J. Taylor et al. I. Plum-cake, While fingers and thumbs, for the sweetmeats and plums, Were hunting and digging beside. 1839 T. Hood My Son & Heir in 542 A Grocer's plum might disappoint. 1884 S. Dowell IV. i. vii. 37 The dried grapes..we term simply raisins when used for eating uncooked, and plums when they form an ingredient in the famous English plum pudding. 1909 11 Dec. 6/7 For some obscure cause the raisin was called a plum. 1999 Re: New England's Bishop Bread in (Usenet newsgroup) 7 Sept. It's a fruit bread (raisins and currants, colloquially known as plums) enriched with lard and butter. the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > confections or sweetmeats > sweets > [noun] > a sweet > drop, lozenge, or comfit 1694 W. Congreve iii. i. 31 So when you've swallow'd the Potion, you sweeten your mouth with a plumb. 1790 W. Cowper 61 Thy morning bounties ere I left my home, The biscuit, or confectionary plum. II. Extended uses. 5. slang. society > trade and finance > money > sum of money > [noun] > specific sums of money > a hundred thousand pounds 1707 M. Prior Ladle: Moral in 52 The Miser must make up his Plumb, And dare not touch the Hoarded Summ. 1710 R. Steele No. 244. ⁋6 An honest Gentleman who..was worth half a Plumb. c1728 Earl of Ailesbury (1890) II. 499 Those even that had nothing at the Revolution had the reputation after of being worth one hundred, and others two hundred thousand pounds. The first sum was christened one plum, and the last, two. 1789 J. Belknap Let. 13 Mar. in W. P. Cutler & J. P. Cutler (1888) II. 252 The revenue is now about £90 plum, to be increased by funding. 1818 88 201/2 Though the personal effects do not exceed 140,000l. there are real estates sufficient to complete the second plumb. 1844 W. M. Thackeray Barry Lyndon i. xiv, in July 101/1 There came just at this period to spa, an English tallow-chandler's heiress, with a plum to her fortune. 1899 W. Besant i. v. 56 The only son of Sir Peter Halliday..the heir to a plum—what do I say? Three or four plums at the least. 1970 R. Davies iii. iii What Boy had I do not know, for he spoke of it mysteriously as ‘a plum’ (an expression out of his Prince of Wales repertoire), but he looked glossy and knew no care. the mind > possession > wealth > [noun] > rich or wealthy person > person who has large amount of money 1709 J. Addison No. 100. ⁋3 Several who were Plumbs, or very near it, became Men of moderate Fortunes. 1746 H. Fielding 14 Jan. 1/3 A Thing highly eligible by every good Man, i.e. every Plumb. 1774 2 238 Warm Citizens with the insolence of a plumb in their countenances. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [noun] > excellent thing 1825 M. Edgeworth IV. 167 It is only the stupid parts of books which tire one. All that is necessary is to pick out the plums. 1858 A. Trollope II. iv. 68 The chances are she won't have you—that's of course; plums like that don't fall into a man's mouth merely for shaking the tree. 1876 ‘G. Eliot’ I. ii. xvi. 330 To fight it away for the sake of getting some sort of plum that he might divide with his mother and the girls. 1887 in G. Stimpson (1952) 258 The boys enjoying the plums will support anybody who is good for him or them. 1901 5 Sept. 4/8 The posts named are justly regarded as plums of the Indian Civil Service. 1958 G. M. Sykes vi. 128 A change in the political party in office will result in..a pretext for the redistribution of political plums. 1973 20 Oct. 13/6 Its slow movement is its ‘plum’, a glorious, unbroken song. 2002 2 Sept. 15/1 The job sounded like a plum until the manager for the Dillard family's home mentioned an additional chore. the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > stone > a stone > [noun] > concretionary or nodular a1817 T. Dwight (1821) II. 355 The plums, or stones, embosomed by the matrix, are exactly of the same kinds, which are found every where in the earth adjacent. 1894 22 Sept. 13/3 The interior was filled in with concrete deposited in layers of nine inches, while large single stones, technically called ‘plums’, weighing, as a rule, about three-and-a-half tons, were placed as close together as possible and bedded in mortar. 1950 Feb. 149/1 A considerable saving may be made in the construction of gravity walls by the use of ‘plumbs’ or large, hard rock boulders, which give weight and save an equivalent bulk of concrete. 1988 K. D. Green in (Austral. Acad. Technol. Sci. & Engin.) iii. 178 The use of large ‘plums’ of gneiss to within 4 m of the crest to economise on mixed concrete. the world > matter > colour > named colours > purple or purpleness > [noun] > other purples 1873 1 Apr. In cravats for ladies, misses, gentlemen and lads, the plums and blues are the vogue. 1878 14 210 [Siamese Swine] varied in color from deep rich plum to dark slate and black. 1940 R. Graves & A. Hodge xvi. 278 Victorian colours—plum, maroon, and violet—were in favour. 1992 Aug. 68/2 The Raleigh turned out to be a seven-story confection in creamy white, mint green, and plum surrounded by photographers' vans, jeeps, TV-commercial crews. the world > life > the body > secretory organs > gland > specific glands > [noun] > testicle or testicles 1934 ‘J. M. Hall’ 2nd Ser. 107 J stands for Jockstrop [sic] To hold up the plums. 1974 46 82 Testicles,..plums, rocks, jewels. 1992 J. Torrington xxii. 195 There was a draught, cold enough to freeze the plums from an Eskimo. 2002 V. Coren & C. Skelton xv. 112 One look at Mark's sweaty grin as he goes close-up on Bronze's mouth round Brick's plum, and we know that this is a man who has got to where he wants to be in life. B. adj.2the world > matter > colour > named colours > purple or purpleness > [adjective] > other purples 1887 28 Jan. (advt.) Black and plum velvet coatings. 1922 J. Joyce ii. xv. [Circe] 526 In a flunkey's plum plush coat and kneebreeches, buff stockings and powdered wig. 1930 V. Sackville-West v. 229 Buttoned into her plum velvet bodice, like the wife of any British tradesman. 1975 J. McClure x. 133 There was a white Jaguar, a plum Datsun coupé and a..Land-Rover. 1992 K. S. Robinson (1993) i. 14 The sky overhead was visible only in plum strips, between buildings that leaned together. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective] > choice or excellent 1923 4 Apr. 5 Most of the propaganda for recall and censure is from those who are losing fat, plum jobs from the stroke of Friend Richardson's ax. 1957 D. Low iv. 43 I landed a plum job such as I had dreamed of. 1966 26 May 746/2 After the Nationalists had come to power, they felt that they had to admit some Afrikaners to their boards and directorates. These were plum appointments and the Boers had been longing for them for years. 1970 13 Apr. 10/6 Europe (the present plum client in the German Railways advertising service). 1991 (Nexis) 2 May ii. 76 She possesses the plummest kid's role to mark Broadway in a decade. society > society and the community > social class > nobility > aristocracy or upper class > [adjective] > relating to voice 1956 P. Larkin Let. 26 Apr. in (1992) 260 I let myself be beguiled into hack broadcasting... Is that plumvoiced pansy, gobblingly unsure even of his sudden baying mongrel vowels, really me?] 1986 D. Caute I. i. 11 He was dressed in a tie and grey business suit, with a..hint of the common people in his accent quite different from Harry's plum baritone, rich with port wine and poetry. 1992 ‘J. Gash’ (1993) viii. 52 A cultured bloke, fair of hair and plum of voice. Phrasesthe mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > accent > [adjective] > of particular accents 1553 T. Wilson iii An other speakes, as though he had Plummes in his mouthe. 1740 P. Sproson 45 You speak as if you had plums in your mouth. 1789 ‘A. Pasquin’ Children of Thespis in II. 93 Tho' he clips Common Sense, with a mouthful of plums, By the aid of his wife he can butter his crums. 1810 J. Poole ii. ii. 28 When speaking a speech, it an actor becomes To mumble as tho' he'd his mouth full of plums. 1861 Mrs. H. Wood III. iii. ix. 78 He was a persuasive orator..: but, had he spoken with plums in his mouth, and a stammer on his tongue, and a break-down at every sentence, the uproarious applause and shouts would have been equally rife. 1907 E. M. Forster i. 20 I have not understood a single word, partly because you talk as if your mouth was full of plums. 1926 D. H. Lawrence vi. 118 She spoke rapidly, a rather plum-in-the-mouth Spanish. 1934 S. R. Nelson vii. 163 The lukewarm, plum-in-the-mouth style of some of the white vocalists. 1985 (Nexis) 19 Sept. Camilla, Sloane ranger secretary with a plum in her mouth and Henley in her heart, has had a nasty shock. 2004 (Nexis) 18 Nov. 16 Speaking with a plum in his mouth that marks him as the Eton and Oxford toff that he is. the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [noun] > delicateness or daintiness 1707 P. A. Motteux i. 7 But mine has the Blue of the Plumb upon her still; thou shalt see her. 1727 A. Hamilton II. xlix. 215 The Maids keep their Teeth very white, till they have lost the blue of their Plumb, and then they dye them as black as Jet. 1738 J. Swift 90 She has quite lost the Blue on the Plumb. ?1800 S. J. Nash 68 When the plum has lost its blue, The pretty look deserts the face. the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > unfortunately [phrase] > suffering misfortune 1991 ‘Dawson’ (title of record) Barf market: you're ontae plums. 1996 uk.music.rave 9 Aug. (Usenet newsgroup, accessed 18 June 2020) Hi-foil house clubs tend not to allow the display of intercostal development, so you would be onto plums, if admiration of a well toned male torso is your thang. 2010 L. Welsh (2011) xxi. 233 ‘I was hoping to interview him.’ ‘Aye, well, unless you're planning on following him down into the eternal beer cellar, I'd say you were onto plums.’ Compounds C1. General attributive. a. 1722 R. Bradley 11 January... Abricot Blossoms, Peach Blossoms, Plum Blossoms, and the young Rose Buds beginning to appear. 1842 Oct. 389/1 The lilies and plum-blossoms do not mingle their colors more beautifully in a bouquet than they were mingled on her face. 1997 Spring 30 Snowy plum blossom sparkles against a blue sky above pathside clumps of forget-me-not flowered anchusa, Brunnera macrophylla. 1868 W. Whitman Singing in Spring 23 in 390 Stems of currants, and plum-blows, and the aromatic cedar. 1852 May 852/1 A piece of oaten bread and a dram of sklikowitz (plum brandy) suffice him, on an emergency, a whole day. 1927 Nov. 292/1 The illicit plum-brandy and whiskey distillers of the Western Farm Bloc. 1986 P. L. Fermor (1988) iv. 86 Two plum brandies appeared on a tray as though by magic. 1858 20 Feb. (heading) Plum culture. 1869 31 Mar. A very full and instructive essay on plum culture may be read with profit; illustrations of six of the choicest varieties are given. 1902 5 July 5/2 Plum-culture is a lottery: for plums either fruit too lightly or they break the tree and glut the market. 2002 (Nexis) 1 Mar. The festival..aims to spread folk arts associated with the plum culture in the ancient metropolis during six ancient feudal dynasties. 1876 Sept. 518/2 The food of the Baltimore oriole..is almost entirely insectivorous, succulent young peas and the stamens of cherry and plum flowers forming the only exceptions. 1982 K. Pollitt ii. 32 A huge moon rises behind branches stippled with white plum flowers. 1763 4 170 The plum-firmity and mellow ale at sheep-shearing dwindled into small-beer, and roasted apples. 1927 F. M. Ford 217 There exist quite a number of Elizabethan receipts for making plum-frumity. 2000 (Nexis) 9 Dec. w12 There was plum frumenty, plum porridge, and plum broth—sweetened grain dishes to which stewed fruit was added—not to mention the plum pie of Little Jack Horner fame. 1873 Feb. 422/2 The child is plum-juice color. 1922 J. Joyce ii. vii. [Aeolus] 142 Wiping off with their handkerchiefs the plumjuice that dribbles out of their mouths. 1996 A. Michaels i. 57 The slow hasapiko and the songs sung with bouzouki that come from the sailors on the docks and the hamals and the plum-juice vendors. a1170 (?OE) Bounds (Sawyer 663) in W. de G. Birch (1893) III. 201 Of þæm hæcce to paþe stocce, þæt to plum leage. 1706 J. Stevens i. at Arbol triste Branches..equally divided at Distances by Knots, out of each of which grow two leaves, one on each side, about the bigness of a Plum-Leaf. 1887 21 264 It is not too much to hope that gardeners will habitually speak of the ‘Ramularia’ of the strawberry, the ‘Septoria’ of the plum leaf. 1994 S. Clark vi. 136 Young plum leaves are said to be effective on athlete's foot. 1787 ii. 13 A little basket containing two small plum loaves, or rolls of bread, in which a few currants had been baked. 1873 R. Broughton (1874) iv. 34 Good-by, dear teapot! good-by, dear plum loaf! 2002 (Nexis) 28 Aug. 4 Maybe you'll just prepare for a picnic with a pork pie and a slice of plum loaf (Lincolnshire made, naturally) from the tiny butcher's shop. 1895 29 Nov. 2/3 An oviform jar and cover of plum-pattern. 2000 (Nexis) 30 Mar. 9 Yellow roses are set in small vases and the plates are bordered in plum patterns. 1811 T. E. Hook ii. iii. 36 Bob. Tell me, Cocky, did you ever feel a twinge there—(touching his heart.) Frank. There, no, not there—a little lower down, in the plum season, I have. 1907 17 Sept. 11/6 The plum season of 1907 is a record one for the abnormal crop of the fruit placed on the London market. 1991 S. Cisneros 108 It was during the plum season we met. I saw you at the country fair at San Lázaro. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. 511 That kind of Peaches or Abricots..love better to bee graffed either upon a skeg or wild Plum-stocke, or Quince. 1707 J. Mortimer (1721) II. 251 Plumb-stocks and Cherry-stocks may be raised from Suckers as well as from Stones. 1855 ‘E. S. Delamer’ 158 In shallow or wet soils it is better to bud [peaches] on plum stocks, such as damsons, St. Juliens, &c. 1984 (Nexis) 19 May 15 The new dwarf plum stock, Pixie, can be used to keep plum bushes small. 1578 A. Parkhurst Let. to Hakluyt in (1935) I. 129 I have in sundry places sowen Wheate, Barlie, Rie, Oates, Beanes, Pease and seedes of herbes, Kernels, plumstones, nuts. 1826 16 Dec. 366/2 In these sacculi were entangled several cherry and plum stones; apple kernels; a friable body like a biliary calculus. 1987 R. Hall (1990) iii. iv. 314 Some..took plumstones gathered from rubbish bins and nursed them into trees. 1702 J. K. tr. F. Massialot Index Plum-tarts. 1770 J. Woodforde 12 Oct. (1924) I. 102 I gave them for dinner a..Plumb Tart and an Apple Tart. 1839–40 W. H. Ainsworth III. iii. xiii. 69 I should like a little of that plum-tart,..but I don't see a spoon. 1998 N. Lawson (1999) 268 Plum tart made with shiny dark Quetschen, sliced, and cooked till a reddy, coppery cinnamon on thick banks of Hefeteig. 1879 18 Aug. 8/2 There is more ignorance or knavery, or both, displayed in the plum trade than in any other branch of the fruit business. 2001 (Nexis) 28 Apr. 19 The Dittisham plum trade fell off in the 1960s, although many houses in the village still have the remains of old orchards in their gardens. 1666 Minute 25 July in T. Birch (1756) II. 106 The lord Brereton remarked, that plum-wine tasted like a kind of Languedoc wine. 1891 Sept. 316/2 The beach-plum crop was a failure; plum wine, of the goodness of which I heard enthusiastic reports, would be scarce. 2001 (rev. ed.) 58 Chicken or vegetable pot stickers sautéed in plum wine, coconut cream, and red curry. b. Objective. 1907 at Plum sb. Plum-feeder. 1894 21 Sept. 1/3 Peach and plum gathering is about over along the southern shores of Lake Ontario. 1928 C. Day Lewis 25 At the time of plum-gathering When the hedge is plumy With Traveller's Joy. 2001 (Nexis) 19 Apr. 2 Plum gathering was a popular activity at the site, but today only a few plum trees remain. 1670 J. Eachard 30 An ordinary Cheesmunger or Plum-seller. 1856 Mar. 521/2 I am an incapable and undeserving plum-seller, named Liho. 1997 (Nexis) 1 Aug. 20 It didn't feel like the familiar souk, with the pushing and shoving and loud music and a plum seller's sing-song shouting of ‘Santarosa, Santarosa, Santarosa’. c. Similative. the world > matter > colour > named colours > purple or purpleness > [adjective] > other purples 1799 E. Meeke IV. 79 The strangers were dressed exactly alike in long French coats of plum-coloured cloth. 1840 R. H. Barham Jackdaw of Rheims in 1st Ser. 219 The Cardinal drew Off each plum-colour'd shoe. 1995 28 May (Review Suppl.) 27/4 He wears a plum-coloured smock, jeans, trainers, and a headset microphone. 1957 L. Durrell 103 Plum-dark mountain roses. 1963 Sept. 146 Plum-dark wool frames the soft blue silk collar of the coat, worn over a matching plum-dark flared skirt. 2000 Apr. 107/1 It is exciting to discover a clutch of tiny seedlings nestling under your precious plum-dark hellebore. 1860 18 Aug. 86/2 Going it like good fellows—bringing it out perfectly ripe, and brown and orange, crimson, and plum-red purple. 1929 31 Oct. 17/4 Sir Francis and Lady Towle, the latter in black, and Miss Towle, also in black, with a plum red felt hat. 1990 A. S. Byatt xv. 282 The staircase was very steep, polished and wooden, with a plum-red runner. 1932 W. H. Auden i. 3 The plum-rich red-earth valley of the Severn. 1992 (Nexis) 29 Oct. 9 There are not many red wines with the early charm, the unabashed cranberry, raspberry or plum-rich flavors..of a good zin [i.e. zinfandel]. 1581 C. T. in E. Farr (1845) II. 395 I will not maserate, Saith he, my plum-round physnomie. 1995 (Nexis) 11 June a1 Kellie's their child, a girl with plum-round cheeks who loves cheerleading and doing flips on the backyard trampoline. d. Parasynthetic. 1773 W. Hanbury I. 113/1 The Plum-leaved Thorn, with very long, strong spines and large fruit. 1862 (1876) XV. 274/2 The plum-leaved spiræa (S. prunifolia), from Japan, with smooth lanceolate leaves, and..very double pure white flowers. 1902 T. W. Sanders (ed. 5) 300 Plum-leaved Thorn (Cratægus prunifolia). 2001 (Nexis) 17 Feb. The foliage examples are the purple smoke-bush, the golden elder, the purple hazel and the plum-leaved barberry. 1879 E. Arnold ii. 45 The plum-necked parrots swung from fruit to fruit. 1759 P. Miller (rev. ed.) at Palma Greater Palm Tree which is all over prickly, and has Plum-shaped Fruit. 1883 Sept. 554/2 The period of greatest beauty for the olive, is when the fruit is ripening, and the boughs are laden with the plum-shaped berries. 1940 F. B. Young 358 It was the season of the ripening of the marula, that yellow plum-shaped fruit. 2001 B. Geddes 55 The plum-shaped naseberry..is made into custard and ice cream. 1922 J. Joyce ii. xv. [Circe] 538 Two trickies Frauenzimmer plumstained from pram falling bawling. 1985 (Nexis) 28 Apr. 1 The trend toward using aniline dyes (which allow such arresting effects as teal suede or plum-stained wood whose grain peeks through) has blossomed. 1882 Oct. 408 ‘The Claude-Lorraine tint which is spread over the scene like the blue mist over a plum.’ In this Claude-Lorraine-plum-tinted valley stood the house. 2003 (Nexis) 6 July 8/3 Two old-time roses start the flowering period in mid-May... Mary Queen of Scots bears plum-tinted pink flowers. C2. the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > arboreal families > family Fringillidae (finch) > [noun] > subfamily Carduelinae > genus Pyrrhula (bullfinch) 1879 G. F. Jackson Plum-bird, the Bullfinch. 2001 (Nexis) 10 Apr. 26 Bullfinches are known as hoops in the Westcountry, from their calls, and as mawps and popes. Blood olp, red hoop and tonnihood, bud picker and plum bird are other names. 1861 R. Noel in F. Galton xiii. 472 The view of it..is backed by the plum-bloom piled mountains, and the snowy crests. 1885 3 Sept. A rich trellis fringe..runs along the edges of the couches, and beneath it is a deep silk fringe of the plum-bloom color. 1890 Dec. 665/2 You will see..the early plum-blooms covered with a fall of snow. 1941 J. Masefield 56 The maiden red Of plum-bloom lying pale Upon the trees' green polls. the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > arboreal families > family Fringillidae (finch) > [noun] > subfamily Carduelinae > genus Pyrrhula (bullfinch) 1879 G. F. Jackson Plum-budder. the world > matter > colour > named colours > purple or purpleness > [noun] > other purples 1714 J. Ozell tr. Molière I. 200 Masc. Is the Ribbon well chosen? Mag. Furiously well. 'Tis a fine Plumb Colour? 1837 C. Dickens xlviii. 527 My uncle..hurled the chair at the man in sky-blue, and the scabbard at the man in plum-colour. 1898 G. B. Shaw iii. 274 The wall decoration of Lincrusta Walton in plum color and bronze lacquer. 2002 Oct. 152/1 The Lexus—an SC430 in a metallic plum color that the sales brochure calls ‘amethyst pearl’. 1860 H. S. Olcott 32 It is a fact not generally known, that apples are attacked by the plum curculio. 1944 R. Matheson xv. 365 The plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, is a short, stout beetle, about 5mm. in length, with a conspicuous hump on each wing cover. 1991 17 Oct. ii. 15/2 I have seen plum curculios damage 100% of the fruit on an unsprayed tree. the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > conifers > [noun] > other conifers 1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore I. 496 Fir, Plum, Prumnopitys elegans. 1887 G. Nicholson III. 172/2 P[odocarpus] andina.., Plum Fir, fr[uit] resembling in form and size the berry of an ordinary White Grape, but in structure that of a Cherry. 1976 (L. H. Bailey Hortorium) 890/2 Podocarpus andinus Poepp. ex Endl. Plum fir. the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Curculionoidea or Rhyncophora > family Curculionidae or genus Curculio > plum-weevil 1863 June 372/3 I have myself seen many such holes [in plums], and have little doubt that they are made by this insect. Hence I propose to call it the ‘Plum-Gouger’. 1905 V. L. Kellogg xii. 296 The larva of the plum-gouger..bores into the stone. 1972 L. A. Swan & C. S. Papp 487 The Plum Gouger..is dark reddish brown. 1730 W. Burdon (1735) 82 Take one Ounce of Plumb Gum beaten very small. 1954 W. G. Constable iv. 46 With the substitution of gum arabic for the cherry or plum gum, this pretty well describes the practice of a water-colour painter up to the days when [etc.]. 1827 J. Barrington II. 435 The plum-holder of the city would very honestly and frankly ‘d—n all your nonsensical sentiment!’ 1897 W. C. Hazlitt 30 The plum-holders, instead of sharing with their poorer brethren, ask the public to make up the deficiency. 1980 (Nexis) 30 June 19/5 2,000 plum-holders in the middle reaches of the Carter Administration are busily preparing resumes. 1889 at Grapholitha Plum-moth (Grapholitha prunivora). 1999 (Nexis) 3 June Other pests that are causing damage in Moravia's plum orchards and may affect this year's production of slivovice plum brandy are plum borer and plum moth. 2003 (Nexis) 2 Aug. 49 The removal of tar oil for winter aphid egg control means that aphids will become uncontrollable on plums, as will plum moth. the world > plants > disease or injury > [noun] > type of disease > fungal > associated with crop or food plants > fruit or fruit plants 1888 22 738 Taphrina pruni Tul., on the fruit of Prunus domestica L., forming ‘the so-called “plum pockets”’. 1910 F. L. Stevens 141 The name ‘plum pocket’ or ‘plum bladder’, arises from the curious hollow deformity of the plum, caused by the fungus. 1956 (Royal Hort. Soc.) (ed. 2) III. 1612/1 A curious trouble on Plum fruits is the one called Pocket Plum, Bladder Plum, Plum Pockets, &c., in which the young fruits grow long and swollen like long bladders and very one-sided in shape. 2002 (Nexis) 5 Oct. 78 His crop was attacked by plum pocket, a fungal disease that turns the fruit into hollow useless things. 1814 P. Syme 26 Plum Purple, the plum blue of Werner, is composed of Berlin blue with much carmine red, a very little brown, and an almost imperceptible portion of black. 1862 G. M. Hopkins (1967) 8 Plum-purple was the west. 1987 K. Rushforth (1990) 172/2 A very attractive tree..of rapid growth and dense small narrow leaflets, turning plum purple in autumn. the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wet weather > [noun] > rainy season (tropical) 1894 10 Feb. 356/1 And still the plum-rain patters on. 1931 I. Nitobé ii. 25 The season of the Plum Rain is a powerful obstacle to the speedy acclimatization of the foreign breeds of cattle and sheep. 1945 G. T. Trewartha (1947) i. ii. 42 Much cloudiness, abundant rain, high humidity, and high sensible temperatures make the so-called bai-u or plum rains a very..gloomy season. 1971 (Meteorol. Office) (ed. 2) xxiii. 378 In May, tropical air begins to advance northwards and is heralded by cyclonic activity and the widespread ‘plum’ rains of China and Japan. 2002 (Nexis) 3 May 12 While meteorologists say seasonal ‘plum rains’ could still avert a crisis, some reservoirs are at record lows. 1879 20 Sept. Tomatoes pickled in this manner keep perfectly well... For this purpose use the small round plum tomatoes. 1982 J. Rosso & S. Lukins 190/1 Italian plum tomatoes are the essential cooking tomatoes. 1997 B. O'Connor 104 Helen went back into the kitchen, plopped a giant tin of plum tomatoes into the blender and made a bitter bloody mash. the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Curculionoidea or Rhyncophora > family Curculionidae or genus Curculio > plum-weevil 1842 Jan. 81 This insect is the plum-weevil, and is the same which may be found in the black excrescence, that so often disfigures the plum tree. 1887 G. Nicholson III. 168/1 The flowers and fruits are attacked chiefly by the Plum Weevil (Rhynchites cupreus) and the Plum Tortrix (Carpocapsa funebrana). 1931 E. O. Essig viii. 509 Gather and dispose of or destroy all fruit infested by the..plum weevil..as often as once a week. 1989 IX. 526/2 Plum curculio, also called American plum weevil. Derivatives 1781 J. Abercrombie (new ed.) 74 Small round Plum-like fruit, consisting of a soft sour pulp. 1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore II. 844 Its fruit..is called Wilde Pruime (i.e. Wild Plum) from its plum~like eatable flesh. 1947 R. Bedichek xv. 199 The black persimmon, whose plumlike appearance makes the mouth water, is a 'possum plum. 2001 J. Robinson i. 21 Its plum-like fruit is poisonous but can be made edible by leaching. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). plumadj.1 Origin: Probably formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: plum v. Etymology: Probably < plum v. Compare earlier plummy adj.1 and later plim adj., plim v. With sense 1 perhaps compare earlier plump adj.1 2, but it is unclear whether this is etymologically related. Now rare (chiefly English regional ( south-western) in later use). the world > life > the body > bodily shape or physique > broad shape or physique > [adjective] > fat or plump 1570 T. North tr. A. F. Doni ii. 50 This Tenche was so plumme and fatte that shee might well serue him for a good meale. 1591 J. Harington tr. L. Ariosto vii. xiv. 50 Round was her neck, most plum and large her brest. 1594 T. Nashe sig. G3 A pretie rounde faced wench..as fat and plum euerie part of her as a plouer. 1782 F. Burney I. ii. iv. 240 If Mr. Briggs..does not speedily come forth with his plum friend. 2. the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > types of softness > [adjective] > soft and light 1637 T. Morton i. vi. 28 These skinnes they convert into very good lether, making the same plume and soft. 1796 W. Marshall Provincialisms W. Devonshire in I. 329 Plum, light and puffy, as some soils. 1847 J. O. Halliwell II Plum, light, soft. West. 1853 8 65/2 Plum..employed in Devonshire in the sense of ‘soft’, e.g. ‘a plum bed’: meaning a soft, downy bed. 1853 8 65/2 If the cake rises well in the oven, it is commonly said that it is ‘nice and plum’. 1880 M. A. Courtney W. Cornwall Words in M. A. Courtney & T. Q. Couch 43/2 He's as plum as boften dough. 1893 ‘Q’ 207 The cushions felt extraordinary plum. 1903 G. E. Dartnell in IV. 559/2 [Wiltshire] Plum,..yielding, as india rubber. the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > rock > texture or colour > [adjective] > texture > soft 1839 H. T. De la Beche x. 336 Respecting granite the miner seems..to prefer the..decomposed kinds, in a state to which he applies the term plumb. 1855 J. R. Leifchild 96 As regards granite, the miner commonly prefers the somewhat decomposed kinds, in a state to which he applies the term plumb—a term much in use in Cornwall to express softness combined with a fair amount of resistance. 1855 J. R. Leifchild 97 A plumb granite or elvan is more particularly esteemed for tin, though the cases are not rare in which large bunches of copper and tin ores are found in hard granite. Compounds the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > cheek > [adjective] > types of cheek > having 1598 J. Florio A good handsome, plum-cheekt wench or lasse. 1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne i. xxxviii. 121 More plumb-cheekt, in better health and liking then I am. 1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne i. xxiv. 63 Insteade of plum-feeding the same [mind], hee hath onely spunged it vp with vanitie. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022). plumv.Origin: Of unknown origin. Etymology: Origin unknown. Compare plummy adj.1 and later plum adj.1, plim v., plim adj. Compare also later plump v.3, but it is unclear whether this or plump adj.1, plump v.1, plump v.2 are etymologically related.The α. forms are apparently by association with the homophone plumb n.1 Now rare (chiefly English regional ( south-western) in later use). the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (intransitive)] > distend > swell a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 304v Moyste matiere y-pressed & y-wronge [1495 take] is arrayed and y-made to plumby and to sprede [L. paratur ad sparsionem et partium separationem]. 1853 8 65/2 There is also a verb to plum... Dough, when rising under the influence of heat and fermentation, is said to be plumming well. 1875 M. G. Pearse 32 Why there was the pan of bread set down before the fire to ‘plumb’. 1882 F. W. P. Jago 238 ‘To plum up’ also means the resumption of the former state after pressure is removed, as of a pillow which ‘plums up’ again. a1903 D. W. Lewin in (1903) IV. 559/2 [Kent] Plum [to swell] as food does when cooked. 2. the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (transitive)] > make plump the world > life > the body > bodily shape or physique > broad shape or physique > [verb (transitive)] > fat or plump society > communication > information > action of informing > give (information) [verb (transitive)] > inform (a person) > misinform 1561 J. Dolman tr. Cicero ii. sig. Kiv An Egle..Which stoupes from hie to plumme her greedy fyll on me. 1594 H. Plat 27 (heading) How to plom vp a horse, and to make him fatte and lustie. 1832 15 Feb. 4/3 Looking at her more narrowly, he observed that her mouth was plumped or plummed. 1882 F. W. P. Jago 238 To ‘plum up’, the bed, or pillow, i.e., render them soft. 2001 (Nexis) 15 Dec. l17 Another suggestion is that plum pudding gets its name not from plums but rather the process of ‘plumming’ the raisins and currants. They are plumped up with brandy until swollen. 1902 J. S. Farmer & W. E. Henley V. 232/2 Plum (or Plumb),..to deceive. 1921 May 323/1 He ain't to know no different but what Jack's got prairie fever. Mind you plum him up stiff. 1927 20 Nov. 26/5 He has recently returned from Upper Silesia..and promptly puts into writing all that his clever German friends have been ‘plumming’ him up with. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  n.adj.2eOE adj.11570v.a1398 |
