honeydew

Drops of honeydew (sense 1) on a leaf.

Honeydew (sense 2.2) or sooty mould on the leaf of a blue peppermint or broad-leaved peppermint (Eucalyptus dives).

A honeydew (sense 2.4) or honeydew melon cut open to reveal its interior.

The noun is derived from honey +‎ dew, originally believed to be a form of dew that fell from the sky like rain onto plants (see sense 1).^[1]

The adjective is derived from the noun.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈhʌnɪdjuː/, /-dʒuː/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈhʌniˌd(j)u/
• Hyphenation: hon‧ey‧dew

honeydew (countable and uncountable, plural honeydews)

1. (uncountable) A sweet, sticky substance deposited on leaves and other plant parts by insects (especially aphids and scale insects) feeding on plant sap, or by fungi.

   Synonym: (archaic) melligo

   • 1640, John Parkinson, “Nux Inglans. The Wallnut.”, in Theatrum Botanicum: The Theater of Plants. Or, An Herball of a Large Extent: , London: Tho Cotes, →OCLC, page 1415:

     [T]here reſteth on the leaves of this tree a kinde of red thicke dew in the hotteſt time of Summer more then on any other tree round about it, which will be rather dry then bedewed at all, which honey dew being taken doth ſlake the thirſt wonderfully: […]

2. (by extension)
   1. (uncountable) A sweet liquid substance resembling the substance mentioned in sense 1, such as honey, nectar, or manna in the Bible.

      Synonym: ambrosia

      • c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus:  (First Quarto), London: Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, , published 1594, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:

        [F]reſh teares / Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honie dew, / Vpon a gathred Lillie almoſt withered.

      • 1658, Edward Topsel [i.e., Edward Topsell], “Of the Sheepe”, in The History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents: , London: E. Cotes, for G. Sawbridge , T. Williams , and T. Johnson , →OCLC, page 603:

        In India, and eſpecially in the region of the Praſians, it raineth many times a dew like liquid hony falling vppon the hearbs and graſſe of the earth: wherefore the ſhepheards lead their flocks vnto thoſe places, wherwithal their cattle are much delighted, and ſuch as is the food they eat, ſuch alſo is the taſt of the milke they render; […] Such a kind of dew the Hæbrewes call Manna, the Græcians Aeromelos, and Droſomelos: The Germaines Himmelhung: and in Engliſh Honny-dew: […]

      • 1797, S[amuel] T[aylor] Coleridge, “Kubla Khan: Or A Vision in a Dream”, in Christabel: Kubla Khan, a Vision: The Pains of Sleep, London: John Murray, , by William Bulmer and Co. , published 1816, →OCLC, page 58:

        Weave a circle round him thrice, / And close your eyes with holy dread: / For he on honey-dew hath fed, / And drank the milk of Paradise.

   2. (uncountable) A blackish mould (often called sooty mould) produced by fungi of the order Dothideales, feeding on the substance mentioned in sense 1.
   3. (uncountable, originally US) In full honeydew tobacco: a fine sort of tobacco moistened with a sweet substance (originally molasses).
   4. (countable) Short for honeydew melon (“a melon from the Cucumis melo Inodorus cultivar group, with sweet, light green or white flesh and a smooth greenish-white or yellow rind”).
      1. (uncountable) A light green colour, like the flesh of some honeydew melons.

         honeydew:  

   5. (countable, figuratively) Something that is enjoyable or pleasant.
      • 1604, Tho[mas] Dekker, “A Device (Projected Downe, but till Now Not Publisht,) that Should Have Serued at His Maiesties First Accesse to the Citie”, in The Magnificent Entertainment: Giuen to King Iames, Queene Anne His Wife, and Henry Frederick the Prince, vpon the Day of His Maiesties Tryumphant Passage (from the Tower) through His Honourable Citie (and Chamber) of London, being the 15. of March. 1603. , London: C], Humphrey Lownes, Edward Allde and others] for Tho Man the yonger, →OCLC:

        He was held vnworthy euer after to ſucke the Hony dew of Peace, that (againſt his comming, by whom our Peace weares a triple Wreathe) would offer to play the Droane.

• canadew
• honeydewed
• honeydew list, honey do list
• honeydew melon

• weeping tree

honeydew (comparative more honeydew, superlative most honeydew)

1. Of a light green colour, like the flesh of some honeydew melons.

• Appendix:Colors

• honeydew (melon) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
  • Cucumis melo Inodorus group on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons
  • Cucumis melo on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• honeydew (secretion) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• honeydew (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia