from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Quince \Quince\ (kw[i^]ns), n. [Prob. a pl. from OE. quyne,
coin, OF. coin, cooin, F. coing, from L. Cydonius a quince
tree, as adj., Cydonian, Gr. ? Cydonian, ? ? a quince, fr. ?
Cydonia, a city in Crete, ? the Cydonians. Cf. {Quiddany}.]
1. The fruit of a shrub ({Cydonia vulgaris}) belonging to the
same tribe as the apple. It somewhat resembles an apple,
but differs in having many seeds in each carpel. It has
hard flesh of high flavor, but very acid, and is largely
used for marmalade, jelly, and preserves.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Bot.) a quince tree or shrub.
[1913 Webster]
{Japan quince} (Bot.), an Eastern Asiatic shrub ({Cydonia
Japonica}, formerly {Pyrus Japonica}) and its very
fragrant but inedible fruit. The shrub has very showy
flowers, usually red, but sometimes pink or white, and is
much grown for ornament.
{Quince curculio} (Zool.), a small gray and yellow curculio
({Conotrachelus crat[ae]gi}) whose larva lives in quinces.
{Quince tree} (Bot.), the small tree ({Cydonia vulgaris})
which produces the quince.
[1913 Webster]