mirabelle
(mɪrəˈbɛl)
Also 8 mirabel.
[a. F. mirabelle.]
1. A variety of plum.
| 1706 London & Wise Retir'd Gard'ner I. 41 The Mirabel is a small Plum. 1840 Penny Cycl. XVIII. 287 Varieties of plums..Mirabelle. 1860 All Year Round No. 56. 130 There are varieties of the Mirabelle plum..which annually bloom profusely in England. 1890 Syd. Soc. Lex., Mirabelle, the fruit of Prunus armenoides. Mirabelle of Corsica, the fruit of Physalis alkekengi. |
2. An alcoholic spirit distilled from mirabelles, spec. those grown in Alsace, France.
| 1940 H. J. Grossman Guide to Wines, Spirits & Beers xviii. 185 The brandy obtained from plums is known by several names, depending on the country of origin:.. Quetsch or Mirabelle when it comes from Alsace in France. 1963 Times 24 Apr. 11/7 ‘Try that,’ he said, proffering a spoon dipped into the last vat of limpid 85° Mirabelle. 1967 N. Freeling Strike Out 67 Bernhard's last bottle of mirabelle. |