Also 7 Virguleus, 7, 9 Vergouleuse, 8 Virgoleuse. [F. virgouleuse, f. Virgoulée (see prec.).] A juicy variety of winter pear. Also attrib. with pear. Cf. VERGALOO.
1698. M. Lister, Journ. Paris (1699), 159. The Virguleus Pears were admirable.
1699. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (ed. 9), 167. Pears. Bergamot de Busy. Vergouleuse.
1706. Gentil’s Jardinier Solitaire, 40. The Marquise, the Easter Bergamot, the Virgouleuse.
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v. Pears, Pears which become ripe in November.—The Virgouleuse is an old Pear, well known for its Goodness.
1828–32. Webster, Vergouleuse, a species of pear; contracted to vergaloo.
1845. A. J. Downing, Fruits & Fruit-trees Amer., 450. Virgouleuse…. An excellent old French variety [of winter pear]…. It is, however, a very different pear from the Virgalieu of New-York, which is the White Doyenné.
1860. Hogg, Fruit Man., 219. Virgouleuse…. Fruit large and pyriform. Skin smooth and delicate, pale lemon colour…. November till January.
