▪ I. nectarine, n.1
(ˈnɛktərɪn, -iːn)
Forms: α. 7 nectarya (?), nectaren, -orin(e, 8 -arin, -arne, 7– nectarine. β. nectrine, 7–8 -tron.
[app. a subst. use of next.]
A variety of the common peach, differing from this in having a thinner and downless skin and a firmer pulp. native nectarine, the native quince or emu-apple of Australia.
| α 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Countrey Farme iii. i. 335 The principall fruit trees which delight to be planted against a wall are peaches, abricots, nectaryas [sic], all sorts of sweet plumbs. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 195 Now also plant Peaches and Nectarines. 1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode v. i, A strange desire I had To eat some fresh Nectaren's. 1685 Temple Ess., Gardening Wks. 1720 I. 183 The only good Nectorins are the Murry and the French. 1712 Arbuthnot J. Bull iii. ii, John had his golden Pippens, Peaches and Nectarnes. a 1763 Shenstone Ess. Wks. 1765 II. 17 On an earwig that crept into a nectarin. 1802 W. Forsyth Fruit Trees iii. (1824) 66, I have often heard of Peaches and Nectarines growing on the same tree. 1855 Delamer Kitch. Gard. (1861) 157 Although the peach is so common in France, the nectarine..is rarer even than in England. 1889 J. H. Maiden Usef. Nat. Pl. 49. |
| attrib. and Comb. 1763 Mills Syst. Pract. Husb. IV. 249 Nectarine trees generally produce their fruit..upon the young wood of the preceding year. 1854 M. Harland Alone xxxi, Black eyes, nectarine bloom and pouting rosy lips. 1856 Olmsted Slave States 639 Of a warmer brown, and a more nectarine-like texture of skin. |
| β 1657 Austen Fruit Trees i. 57, I shall joyne the Nectrine with the Aprecock although another kind of fruit. 1686 Plot Staffordsh. 227 Where there are now growing..7 sorts of Nectrons and Peaches. 1715 Lond. Gaz. No. 5360/9 Good Peaches, Nectrons and Apricock Trees. |
▪ II. nectarine, a. and n.2
(ˈnɛktərɪn)
[f. nectar + -ine1.]
A. adj. Of the nature of, sweet as, nectar.
| 1611 Cotgr., Nectarin, Nectarine, of Nectar, diuinely sweet, as Nectar. 1633 J. Done Hist. Septuagint 13 To taste and relish those most nectarine..and excellent things. 1668 H. More Div. Dial. ii. xviii. (1713) 144 The roscid Lips and nectarine Kisses of thy silver-faced Cynthia! 1854 F. Tennyson in Fraser's Mag. L. 646 He drank up The precious drops, bright, dewy, nectarine. |
† B. n. A nectarean draught. Obs. rare—1.
| 1628 Burton Anat. Mel. iii. ii. v. iii. (ed. 3) 509 [It is] to no purpose to prescribe Narcoticks, Cordials, Nectarines, potions, Homers Nepenthes, or Helena's Bole. |