Damson
/ˈdæmzən/noun
A small oval plum with dark purple skin and tart flesh.
Did you know?Damson ultimately comes from Damascus, so the fruit’s name is literally a place-name fossil preserved in English for centuries.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Damaskēnē
“A plum from Damascus”
Latin
Latin
damascena
“Of Damascus; a Damascus plum”
Old French
OF
damasine
“A plum of Damascus”
Middle English
English
damasyn
“A plum, especially one associated with Damascus”
Modern English
English
damson
“A small tart plum”