Research

The following definitions of some old pomological terms come from the Oxford English Dictionary, but I have put them in my own words. The dates are the first use of that word for which the dictionary has a record.

Codling An immature or green apple. The codling moth attacks apples when they are immature. Probably also used for apples that were green when used. CRAB. From the Norse word for crab apple – scrab. 1420

Gilliflower Given to apples that smell or taste like gilliflower, a garden plant of the genus dianthus that smells like cloves. Pronounced ‘jilly’ flower.

Greening Green skinned

Jeniting Early apple, from the French ‘Pomme de jeanet’ ripening about June 24th – St. Jeanne’s Day. 160l

Noble Having excellent characteristics, as in ‘better than the rest’.

Nonpareil From the French, meaning ‘without an equal’.

Nonesuch Also meaning without an equal. None other like it.

Pearmain From the French ‘Parmanus’ meaning from Parma (Northern Italy) 1597

Pippin A seedling apple. From the old French ‘pepin’ meaning seed.

Reinette or Rennet or Renneting From the French Reine, Queen, given to a large group of French dessert apples, high flavoured but not sweet, small, flat, hard, and good keeping. 1568

Russet The word means red, but it refers to the texture of the apples since it comes from ‘russet coat’ the dull red/brown wool coats of peasants. Rusty Coat probably has the same origin.