prunello
/prʊˈnɛləʊ/ /pruːˈnɛləʊ/(also prunelle) Now rare
noun
Originally: a small kind of plum, either fresh or dried. Later: specifically the sloe, the bitter fruit of the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), which may be dried or used to make a liqueur.
Origin
Late Middle English; earliest use found in John Trevisa (c1342–?1402), translator. From Anglo-Norman prunele, Middle French prunele, prunelle (French prunelle) sloe and its probable etymon post-classical Latin prunella small plum or sloe, sloe from pruna + -ella. In later use probably partly also from Italian †prunella. Compare post-classical Latin spina prunellifera blackthorn, sloe bush, prunellum sloe, prunella burnet (bearing plum-like rosehips), pruneolum bullace (all three 1579 in a British source).