1. [STONE sb. 12.] A fruit having the seed or kernel surrounded by a ‘stone’ or hard endocarp within the pulp; a drupe. (Also collectively: cf. FRUIT sb. 2 a.)
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 140. All maner of stone fruite, and nuttes.
1600. Surflet, Country Farm, III. xliv. 511. Plum trees, and other trees bearing stone fruit.
1675. Cotton, Planters Man., title-p., All sorts of Fruit-Trees, whether Stone-fruits, or Pepin-fruits.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 441. It ought not to be gathered till it is quite ripe, which in stone fruits and berries is known by its softness and fragrance.
1883. Evang. Mag., Oct., 460. The kind of fruit called a ‘Drupe,’… generally known as a ‘stone-fruit.’
attrib. 1721. Mortimer, Husb. (ed. 5), II. 305. Stone-Fruit Trees generally bear on the Branches of the foregoing Year.
1855. Delamer, Kitch. Gard. (1861), 145. Stone-fruit-trees are almost always budded instead of being grafted.
2. (As two words.) [STONE sb. 2 d, 17 b.] Imitation fruit made of stoneware, used as chimney ornaments.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 371/1. Of stone fruit there are now usually six street sellers…. The fruit is principally made at Chesterfield in Derbyshire…. The most saleable fruits are apples, pears, peaches, apricots, oranges, lemons, and cucumbers. The cucumbers, which are sometimes of pot as well as of stone … are sometimes made to serve for gin-bottles.
