Pear

views updated May 21 2018

PEAR

PEAR (Heb. אַגָּס, mishnaic), Pyrus communis. Although it is first mentioned in rabbinic literature this does not necessarily mean that the pear was not grown in Ereẓ Israel in biblical times. A member of the same genus, the Syrian pear Pyrus syriaca (mishnaic Heb. ḥizrar), grows wild in Ereẓ Israel in Upper Galilee (Kil. 1:4). The same Mishnah mentions a variety of pear called krostomlin which is regarded as belonging to the same species. The reference is to the pear called by Pliny (Natural History, 15:53) crustumina. It seems that during the time of the Mishnah they began to grow this excellent species in Ereẓ Israel, hence its Roman name. In modern Israel the Arabs used to grow small local pears, but excellent large species have been introduced by the Jews, and today pears are found in abundance.

bibliography:

Loew, Flora, 3 (1924), 235–40; J. Feliks, Kilei Zera'im ve-Harkavah (1967), 93–95. add. bibliography: Feliks, Ha-Tzome'aḥ, 18.

[Jehuda Feliks]

pear

views updated Jun 11 2018

pear / per/ • n. 1. a yellowish- or brownish-green edible fruit that is typically narrow at the stalk and wider toward the tip, with sweet, slightly gritty flesh. 2. (also pear tree) the Eurasian tree (genus Pyrus) of the rose family that bears this fruit.

pear

views updated May 18 2018

pear Fruit of many species of Pyrus; cultivated varieties all descended from P. communis; the UK National Fruit Collection has 495 varieties of dessert and cooking pears, and a further 20 varieties of perry pears. A 200‐g portion (an average fruit) is a source of vitamins B6 and C and copper; contains 4–5 g of dietary fibre; supplies 80 kcal (340 kJ). See also poire williams.

Pear

views updated Jun 11 2018

Pear

Also known as the "Bahr" or "Pohr," the Pear number about 1,000 (1981) and live in southwest Cambodia. They are now largely assimilated into Khmer society. The Pear are closely related to the Chong and the Saoch.

See also Khmer

Bibliography

Hickey, Gerald C. (1964). "Pear." In Ethnic Groups of Mainland Southeast Asia, edited by Frank M. LeBar, Gerald C. Hickey, and John K. Musgrave, 159-160. New Haven: HRAF Press.

pear

views updated Jun 08 2018

pear Tree and its edible fruit, native to n Asia and s Europe and grown in temperate regions. The tree has white flowers and glossy, green leaves. The greenish-yellow, brownish or reddish fruit, picked unripe and allowed to mature, is eaten fresh or preserved. Height: 15–23m (50–75ft). Family Rosaceae; species Pyrus communis.

pear

views updated Jun 27 2018

pear OE. pere, peru, corr. to MLG., MDu. pere (Du. peer) — popL. *pira, fem. sg. repl. L. pirum, of unkn. orig.

pear

views updated Jun 27 2018

pear See PYRUS.