Sloe

Pronunciation

• IPA: /sləʊ/

Origin

From Old English slāh, from Proto-Germanic *slaihwō, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leie- ("bluish"); related to Danish slåen, Dutch slee, German Schlehe and perhaps with Russian слива (sliva, "plum").

Full definition of sloe

Noun

1. The small, bitter, wild fruit of the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa); also, the tree itself.
• 1796, , by Erasmus Darwin, partThere is also a dryness in the mouth from the increased action of the absorbent vessels, when a sloe or a crab-apple are masticated...
• 1872, by H.C.Andersen,The dew-drops fell like water, leaf after leaf dropped from the trees, the sloe-thorn alone still bore fruit, but the sloes were sour, and set the teeth on edge. Oh, how dark and weary the whole world appeared!
• 1899, Resurrection (novel), by , ,Katusha, with her eyes black as sloes, her face radiant with joy, was flying towards him, and they caught hold of each other`s hands.
2. Any of various other plants of the genus Prunus, as a shrub or small tree, , bearing dark-purple fruit.

Derived terms

• sloe gin
• sloe-eyed

Anagrams

• ESOL
• Leos
• lose
• sole