honeydew

plural honeydews

1. uncountableA sweet, sticky substance deposited on leaves and other plant parts by insects (especially aphids and scale insects) feeding on plant sap, or by fungi.

   [T]here reſteth on the leaves of this tree a kinde of red thicke dew in the hotteſt time of Summer more then on any other tree round about it, which will be rather dry then bedewed at all, which honey dew being taken doth ſlake the thirſt wonderfully: […]

   1640, John Parkinson, “Nux Inglans. The Wallnut.”, in Theatrum Botanicum: The Theater of Plants. Or, An Herball of a Large Extent: […], London: […] Tho[mas] Cotes, →OCLC, page 1415

   Synonyms: melligo

2. broadlyuncountableA sweet liquid substance resembling the substance mentioned in sense 1, such as honey, nectar, or manna in the Bible.

   [F]reſh teares / Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honie devv, / Vpon a gathred Lillie almoſt vvithered.

   c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], signature [E4], verso

   2 more examples

   In India, and eſpecially in the region of the Praſians, it raineth many times a dew like liquid hony falling vppon the hearbs and graſſe of the earth: wherefore the ſhepheards lead their flocks vnto thoſe places, wherwithal their cattle are much delighted, and ſuch as is the food they eat, ſuch alſo is the taſt of the milke they render; […] Such a kind of dew the Hæbrewes call Manna, the Græcians Aeromelos, and Droſomelos: The Germaines Himmelhung: and in Engliſh Honny-dew: […]

   1658, Edward Topsel [i.e., Edward Topsell], “Of the Sheepe”, in The History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents: […], London: […] E. Cotes, for G. Sawbridge […], T. Williams […], and T. Johnson […], →OCLC, page 603

   Weave a circle round him thrice, / And close your eyes with holy dread: / For he on honey-dew hath fed, / And drank the milk of Paradise.

   1797, S[amuel] T[aylor] Coleridge, “Kubla Khan: Or A Vision in a Dream”, in Christabel: Kubla Khan, a Vision: The Pains of Sleep, London: […] John Murray, […], by William Bulmer and Co. […], published 1816, →OCLC, page 58

   Synonyms: ambrosia

3. broadlyuncountableA blackish mould (often called sooty mould) produced by fungi of the order Dothideales, feeding on the substance mentioned in sense 1.
4. broadlyuncountableIn full honeydew tobacco: a fine sort of tobacco moistened with a sweet substance (originally molasses).
5. abbreviationbroadlycountableellipsisEllipsis of honeydew melon (“a melon from the Cucumis melo Inodorus cultivar group, with sweet, light green or white flesh and a smooth greenish-white or yellow rind”).
   1. broadlyuncountableA light green colour, like the flesh of some honeydew melons.
6. broadlycountablefigurativelySomething that is enjoyable or pleasant.

   He was held vnworthy euer after to ſucke the Hony dew of Peace, that (againſt his comming, by whom our Peace weares a triple Wreathe) would offer to play the Droane.

   1604, Tho[mas] Dekker, “A Device (Projected Downe, but till Now Not Publisht,) that Should Have Serued at His Maiesties First Accesse to the Citie”, in The Magnificent Entertainment: Giuen to King Iames, Queene Anne His Wife, and Henry Frederick the Prince, vpon the Day of His Maiesties Tryumphant Passage (from the Tower) through His Honourable Citie (and Chamber) of London, being the 15. of March. 1603. […], London: […] T[homas] C[reede], Humphrey Lownes, Edward Allde and others] for Tho[mas] Man the yonger, →OCLC

comparative more honeydew · superlative most honeydew

1. Of a light green colour, like the flesh of some honeydew melons.