Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A name of several excellent varieties of apple.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Bot.) The name of several kinds of apples.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun obsolete A type of pear.
  • noun Any of various types of apple, having an elongated shape and often with streaky skin.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any of several varieties of apples with red skins

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Anglo-Norman parmain, peremain et al., Middle French parmain, permain ("type of pear or apple"), of uncertain origin.

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Examples

  • Firstly, its unusual shape - it is a very tall apple, a shape which is characteristic of 'pearmain' apples such as Adams Pearmain.

    Collecting My Thoughts 2009

  • Look in bin/trash can, collect pearmain (1 coin here).

    Archive 2008-05-01 2008

  • Click on its mouth to get it to open then pop the pearmain in.

    Archive 2008-05-01 2008

  • Now if she'd er tuk thim old blue pearmain trees, I wouldn't have said a word.

    Hetty's Strange History Anonymous

  • As varieties of the Apple, mention is made in documents of the twelfth century, of the pearmain, and the costard, from the latter of which has come the word costardmonger, as at first a dealer in this fruit, and now applied to our costermonger.

    Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure William Thomas Fernie

  • He left a hollow limb on the old red pearmain apple-tree, because when he came to cut it there was a pair of bluebirds twittering around, frantic with anxiety.

    The Song of the Cardinal 1915

  • Peter and Sally were under the big pearmain apple tree at the foot of the orchard, Shelley and a half dozen beaus were everywhere.

    Laddie: A True Blue Story 1913

  • On the further side of the house, Dr. Ripley had planted an apple orchard, which included some rare varieties, especially the blue pearmain, a dark-red autumn apple with a purple bloom upon it like the bloom upon the rye.

    The Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne Stearns, Frank P 1906

  • Molly set the barrel up on end, and that took the boy out of the reach of mischief, so he retired from view and peeped through a crack as he ate his fifth pearmain, regardless of consequences.

    Jack And Jill Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888 1902

  • Peter and Sally were under the big pearmain apple tree at the foot of the orchard,

    Laddie; a true blue story Gene Stratton-Porter 1893

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