clingstone, a. and n.
(ˈklɪŋstəʊn)
A variety of the peach in which the flesh of the ripe fruit clings to the stone.
| 1722 Beverley Virginia (ed. 2) 279 The best sort cling to the Stone, and will not come off clear, which they call Plum-Nectarines, and Plum-Peaches, or Cling-Stones. 1840 Penny Cycl. XVII. 345/2 The firm-fleshed or cling⁓stone peaches..are preferred in America. Ibid. 347/1 Cling⁓stones..Melters. 1866 Treas. Bot. 55/1 Three principal varieties of the Peach exist—clingstones, melters or freestones, and nectarines. 1880 Sat. Rev. 612 The division of peaches and nectarines into freestones and clingstones. |