Dictionary

sebesten plum en · NOUN

Etymology

From sebesten + plum.

Meanings

1. (dated) Synonym of Assyrian plum
   • Some species are valued for their fruit, notably C. sebestena the Sebesten plum of the West Indies, C. myxa of Egypt; others for their timber, as C. gerascanthus and C. scabia, Spanish elm, princewood, &c. of the West Indies. 1860, W. & R. Chambers (publisher), Chambers's Encyclopaedia, A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge, Volume 3, page 475:
   • Under the name Sebesten Plums, Sebestans, or Sepistans, two sorts of Indian fruit have been employed as pectoral medicines, for which their mucilaginous qualities, combined with some astringency, have recommended them. 1849, John Lindley, Medical and Œconomical Botany, With Numerous Illustrations, page 208:
   • In his comments on Paul's account (I, ₇) of cough affecting children, Adams remarks that the treatment recommended by al-Rāzī in chap. 18 of De morbis infantium is nearly the same as that of al-Zahrāwī,³¹ which he summarizes as involving "various demulcents", and an electuary containing poppy-seed, tragacanth, and the seeds of citrons, to be taken in a decoction of sebesten plums. 2015, Gerrit Bos, Michael R. McVaugh (editors), Al-Rāzī, On the Treatment of Small Children (De Curis Puerorum), The Latin and Hebrew Translations, page 92:
   • Has numerous spreading branches, and the young shoots are angular and smooth; small, round, reddish-colored, pleasant-tasted glutinous fruit, called sebesten plum. 1885, Madras (India, Presidency), Manual of the Administration of the Madras Presidency, in Illustration of the Records of Government & the Yearly Administration Reports, Volume 3, page 803:

Forms

Synonyms

Assyrian plum