‖ Reine Claude
(rɛn klod)
[Fr., perh. a. the name of Claude (1499–1524), daughter of Louis XII and wife of Fran{cced}ois I.]
= greengage. Also attrib.
| 1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. s.v. Prunus 16. La Reine Claude, i.e. Queen Claudia. This is a small round Fruit, of a yellowish Colour,..and its Juice is richly sugar'd. 1860 R. Hogg Fruit Man. 252 Reine Claude. See Green Gage. 1929 E. A. Bunyard Anat. Dessert 118 In France it [sc. the greengage] is always known as Reine Claude, and the legend runs that it is thus named after the wife of Fran{cced}ois I. 1941 Mrs. Belloc Lowndes I, too, have lived in Arcadia xvi. 299 A large old Reine Claude, of which the sweet luscious fruit was famed. 1962 Harper's Bazaar Aug. 37 Delicious though the reine claude can be. 1973 Guardian 20 Jan. 3/4 It is the land of..the honeyed Reine-Claude greengages. |