sloe

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 сли́ва (slíva, “plum”).

• IPA^(key): /sləʊ/

sloe (plural sloes)

1. The small, bitter, wild fruit of the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).
   • 1796, Zoonomia, or, the Laws of Organic Life, by Erasmus Darwin, part II.I.I.III

     There 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, The Snow Queen by H.C.Andersen, translation by Paull

     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, by Leo Tolstoy, translation by Maude, chapter 12

     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. The tree Prunus spinosa.
3. Any of various other plants of the genus Prunus, as a shrub or small tree, Prunus alleghaniensis, bearing dark-purple fruit.

• sloe gin
• sloe-eyed

• EOLs, ESOL, Elos, LEOs, Leos, OELs, Sole, elos, leos, lose, sole