plum

plural plums · alternative obsolete plumb

1. The fruit and its tree.
   1. An edible, fleshy stone fruit of species Prunus domestica (European plum) and Prunus americana American plum, often of a dark red or purple colour.First known use 8th c.

      Synonyms: ume

   2. A stone-fruit tree which bears this fruit, Prunus domestica.First known use 8th c.
   3. Prunus cerasifera (cherry plum or myrobalan).First known use 16th c.
   4. Prunus salicina (Chinese plum or Japanese plum).First known use 16th c.
   5. Prunus spinosa (sloe).First known use 16th c.
   6. Prunus ursina (bear's plum).First known use 16th c.
   7. Prunus americana (American plum).First known use 16th c.
   8. Prunus angustifolia (Chickasaw plum or sand plum).First known use 16th c.
   9. Prunus hortulana (hortulan plum).First known use 16th c.
   10. Prunus nigra (Canadian plum or black plum).First known use 16th c.
   11. Prunus rivularis (creek plum or hog plum).First known use 16th c.
   12. Prunus subcordata (Klamath plum or Oregon plum).First known use 16th c.
   13. Prunus sect. Armeniaca (better known as apricots)First known use 16th c.
   14. Prunus mume, an Asian fruit more closely related to the apricot than the plum, usually consumed pickled, dried, or as a juice or wine; ume.First known use 16th c.
   15. archaicA dried grape or raisin, as used in a pudding or cake.First known use 17th c.

       “Bright boy! here’s a plum for you,” and Polly threw a plump raisin into his mouth.

       1870, Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl

       1 more example

       Little Jack Horner sat in a corner, eating a Christmas pie; he put in his thumb, and he took out a plum, and said, “What a good boy am I!”

       1877, Mother Gooose’s Nursery Rhymes

2. Extended senses.
   1. archaicOne hundred thousand pounds; (generally) a fortune.First known use 18th c.

      He […] acquired a plentiful fortune, tho', to his infinite regret, he died before it amounted to a Plum […].

      1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC

   2. A desirable or choice thing of its kind; a prize selection; a choice appointment, assignment etc.First known use 19th c.

      The mayor rewarded his cronies with cushy plums, requiring little work for handsome pay.

      2 more examples

      Such chances as this do not fall to a man's lot twice; but Edmond Werdet relates a story very similar indeed, and where also the "plums" fell into the lap of a London dealer.

      1880, William Blades, The Enemies of Books, page 52

      As to Rev. Jerry [Falwell], he, of course, is "not anti-homosexual" but "anti-homosexuality." I guess that's his same bit of down home sophistry that explains that God listens to the prayers of Jews, if they are consciously praying to a Christian God, one of the Rev.'s latest dialectic plums.

      1980 December 13, Ronnie Allen, “Anita's Latest”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 21, page 5

   3. A dark bluish-red color, the color of some plums.First known use 19th c.

      Synonyms: plum-color

   4. plural normallyslangvulgarA testicle.First known use 20th c.
   5. UKderogatoryA fool, an idiot.

comparative more plum · superlative most plum · alternative obsolete plumb

1. comparableOf a dark bluish-red colour.

   Synonyms: plum-colored

2. not comparableChoice; especially lavish or preferred.

   She landed a plum position as an executive for the firm.

   1 more example

   It is obviously a "plum" job, one distinction being that its motormen are granted an allowance of about 6s. [six shillings] towards the cost of Wagons-Lits food in the crew quarters of the train, [...]. Additionally, by the way, each man is allowed a quarter of a bottle of wine "on the house" per trip!

   1960 March, G. Freeman Allen, “Europe's most luxurious express - the "Settebello"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 146

comparative more plum · superlative most plum · alternative obsolete plumb

1. Plumb.

alternative obsolete plumb

1. not comparableCompletely; utterly.

   You're going to think I'm plum crazy for this, but I want to adopt all seven kittens.

present singular third person plums · participle present plumming · participle past plummed · past plummed · alternative obsolete plumb

1. transitivebusinessTo plumb.

plural Plums

1. countableuncountableA surname.
2. A place name:
   1. countableuncountableA borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, named after Plum Creek (Allegheny River tributary).
   2. countableuncountableA township in Venango County, Pennsylvania.
   3. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Fayette County, Texas, United States.
   4. countableuncountableA village in Le Mont-Dore commune, New Caledonia.