peach

Definition

Any tree of species Prunus persica, native to China and now widely cultivated throughout temperate regions, having pink flowers and edible fruit.

Etymology

From Middle English peche, borrowed from Old French pesche (French pêche), Vulgar Latin *pessica (cf. Medieval Latin pesca) from Late Latin persica, from Classical Latin mālum persicum, from Ancient Greek μᾶλον περσικόν (mâlon persikón, “Persian apple”). Displaced Middle English persogʒe, from Old English persoc, from the same Latin root above.

Example Sentences

• "I think it the best way to plant the fifteen sorts, and the hard Peaches I have mentioned, in the same order as they stand in the list."
• "Several attempts have been made to class the varieties of Peaches and Nectarines by the leaf and flower, as well as the fruit."
• "Scattered plantings of peaches are maintained on the light-textured deep alluvial soils of the Foster, Cajon, Hanford, Hesperia, and Greenfield series west of Porterville, near Woodville, Poplar, Sausalito School, and farther south along the Kern County boundary line north of Delano."