quince
UK[kwɪns]US[kwɪns]
n
a hard, acid-tasting, yellowish fruit used in cooking, especially for making jam or jelly.
Etymology
the word "quince" has a journey that traces back through the romance languages to the classical world. it originated from the old french "cooin", which evolved from the vulgar latin "cotōneum", a transformation of the classical latin "cydōnium" or "mālum cydōnium", meaning "apple of cydonia". this, in turn, derives from the greek "kydōnion mēlon", linking the fruit to the region of cydonia in crete, famous for its cultivation. the phonetic shift from "cotōneum" to "quince" in middle english illustrates a common pattern of simplification and anglicization of borrowed words, obscuring the original geographical reference while preserving the name of the distinct fruit.
Analysis
this word is a loanword that entered english as a single, unanalyzable unit from old french. its ultimate origin is the latin "cydōnia" (mala), meaning "quince (fruit)", which itself came from the greek "kydōnion (mēlon)", meaning "Cydonian (apple)", after cydonia, an ancient city on crete.
Examples
the recipe for membrillo calls for quince, sugar, and lemon juice.
she placed a bowl of fragrant quinces on the kitchen table.
in medieval times, quince was often served at feasts as a digestive aid.