damson

IPA/ˈdæmzn/
KK[dˈæmsən]IPA/ˈdæmzn/

damson — noun

  • damsonsingular
  • damsonsplural

1. A small fruit with dark blue or purple skin and sour-tasting yellow-green flesh,

1.nounC1
Definition

A small fruit with dark blue or purple skin and sour-tasting yellow-green flesh, which grows on a particular kind of plum tree and is often used in cooked dishes such as jam, chutney, or pies.

Example

Theo picked a basket of ripe damsons from the tree in his grandmother's garden.

countable: ripe damsons / a basket of damsons

Amara spread homemade damson jam on her morning toast instead of marmalade.

collocation: damson jam

Common collocations
  • damson jam
  • damson chutney
  • damson tree
  • damson pie
  • ripe damsons
  • damson plum
Synonyms
  • plum

    Damson is a specific tart variety of plum; 'plum' covers many sweeter types as well

  • greengage

    Another specific plum variety that is green and sweeter, unlike the dark purple sour damson

Grammar Patterns

a/the damson

damsons (plural)

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A damson is a specific type of plum — smaller, tarter, and darker (deep purple) than common dessert plums. 'Plum' is the broad category covering hundreds of sweet and sour varieties; a damson is one member of that group. 'Greengage' is another plum variety, but it is round, green-yellow, and notably sweet, whereas damsons are oval and sharply sour. 'Sloe' (the fruit of the blackthorn bush) looks similar to a small damson but is even more bitter and astringent, rarely eaten raw and used mainly in gin or liqueur. In cooking, damsons hold their shape better than most plums, making them ideal for preserves — damson jam and damson chutney are classic British preparations that highlight the fruit's natural tartness.

plum ↗greengagesloe

Common collocations

Nouns

  • damson jam
  • damson chutney
  • damson tree
  • damson plum
  • damson pie

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'damson' is short for 'damascene', referring to the city of Damascus (in modern-day Syria), where this type of plum was thought to have originated. It came into English through Latin 'damascenum' ('plum of Damascus') and Old French 'damasene', later shortened to 'damson'.