\Quince\, n. [Prob. a pl. from OE. quyne, coin, OF. coin,
cooin, F. coing, from L. Cydonius a quince tree, as adj.,
Cydonian, Gr. ? Cydonian, ? ? a quince, fr. ? Cydonia, a city
in Crete, ? the Cydonians. Cf. {Quiddany}.]
1. The fruit of a shrub ({Cydonia vulgaris}) belonging to the
   same tribe as the apple. It somewhat resembles an apple,
   but differs in having many seeds in each carpel. It has
   hard flesh of high flavor, but very acid, and is largely
   used for marmalade, jelly, and preserves.
2. (Bot.) a quince tree or shrub.
{Japan quince} (Bot.), an Eastern Asiatic shrub ({Cydonia},
   formerly {Pyrus, Japonica}) and its very fragrant but
   inedible fruit. The shrub has very showy flowers, usually
   red, but sometimes pink or white, and is much grown for
   ornament.
{Quince curculio} (Zo["o]l.), a small gray and yellow
   curculio ({Conotrachelus crat[ae]gi}) whose larva lives in
   quinces.
{Quince tree} (Bot.), the small tree ({Cydonia vulgaris})
   which produces the quince.