The American date-plum. The fruit is highly astringent.
1670. The Fruits natural to the Island are Mulberries, Posimons, &c.—D. Denton, ‘Description of New York’ (1845), p. 3. (N.E.D.)
1705. The Persimmon is by Hariot call’d the Indian Plum; and so Smith, Purchase, and Du Lake, call it after him.—Beverley, ‘Virginia,’ ii. 14.
1775. Diospyros guajacana. Parsimmon.—B. Romans, ‘Florida,’ p. 20.
1817. I found it [the cake] was made of the pulp of the persimon, mixed with pounded corn. (Note) Diospyros Virginiana.—John Bradbury, ‘Travels,’ p. 37.
1827. He had taken to wearing his beard again; why, or with what view, it passes my persimmon to tell you.—De Quincey, ‘Works,’ iv. 50. (N.E.D.)
[He of course means his head, his understanding; and he probably mistakes the persimmon for some larger fruit/]
1833. In the spring he caught fish, in the autumn he shook the stupid opossum from the persimmon-trees and pawpaw bushes, and during the rest of the year he took—whatever chance threw in his way.—James Hall, ‘The Harpe’s Head,’ p. 111 (Phila.).
1842. Joe Smith [the Mormon prophet] is a great fellow for sucking persimmons.—Phila. Spirit of the Times, May 12.
a. 1848. [Eve] got the Devil to give her a boost into the tree; and up she went like a ’possum after persimmons.—Dow, Jun., ‘Patent Sermons,’ i. 189.
1851. All’s fair, and cheat and cheat alike is the order; and the longest pole knocks down the persimmon!—J. J. Hooper, ‘Widow Rugby’s Husband,’ &c., p. 20.
1855.
| Seaward stretches a valley there, | |
| Seldom frequented by men or women; | |
| Its rocks are hung with the prickly-pear, | |
| And the golden balls of the wild persimmon. | |
F. S. Cozzens, ‘Captain Davis: A Californian Ballad,’ Knickerbocker Magazine, xlv. 333 (April). |
1857. This gentleman … is somewhat advanced in years, and has an expression of countenance such as might be supposed would be produced by an exclusive diet of persimmons.—T. B. Gunn, ‘New York Boarding-houses,’ p. 66.
1857. He will deal himself four queens, so that your Honor will perceive he must “rake the persimmons.”—San Francisco Call, April 3.
1859. Ye think yourself that I’m some persimmons now, don’t ye?—Mrs. Duniway, ‘Captain Gray’s Company,’ p. 26 (Portland, Oregon).
*** See also HUCKLEBERRY.
