nespolo

Italian

nespolo comune (medlar)

nespolo del Giappone (loquat)

Etymology

Inherited from Latin mespilum, which borrowed it from Ancient Greek μέσπιλον (méspilon). For the unexpected /o/ in the second syllable of nespolo, compare -evole.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɛ.spo.lo/
• Rhymes: -ɛspolo
• Hyphenation: nè‧spo‧lo

Noun

nespolo m (plural nespoli)

1. medlar (tree)

   Synonym: nespolo comune

2. loquat (tree)

   Synonym: nespolo del Giappone

Usage notes

• There is much confusion between these two plants (and associated fruit). The nespolo del Giappone is Eriobotrya japonica or loquat, wheras the nespolo comune is Crataegus germanica (syn. Mespilus germanica) or medlar.

Related terms

• nespola (“fruit”)

Further reading

• nespolo in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana