mountain plum

plural mountain plums

1. A tree of species Ximenia americana, of the tropics, that bears cherished fruits.

   Mountain plum.—The mountain plum (Ximenia americana) is a native of the tropics. It is a tree with simple leaves; flowers white, in clusters; fruit yellow, size of a plum; pulp of a pleasant subacid taste with a slight astringency.

   1891, W. Estes, “Consular Reports on Commerce, Manufacturers, etc.: Fruits of Jamaica. No. 130–July, 1891”, in Reports from the Consuls of the United States. Vol XXXVI, Washington: Government Printing Office, page 329 from 321

   Synonyms: sea lemon, hog plum, false sandalwood, yellow plum, seaside plum, tallowwood, wild olive

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see mountain, plum.

   They fry okra. […] Our supper came with a bottle of brandy made from mountain plums and, by the potency, a good helping of mountain lightning, too.

   2005, Harry Turtledove, Every Inch a King, New York: Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 122