subs. (American colloquial).—[A species of wild plum; in America as common, south of latitude 42°, as is the blackberry in England. Its fruit and hard wood are much esteemed. The huckleberry is akin to the whortleberry.] Among popular phrases are: TO RAKE UP THE PERSIMMONS = to pocket the stakes or spoils, TO RAKE (or PULL) IN THE PIECES (q.v.); THE LONGEST POLE GETS (or KNOCKS) THE MOST PERSIMMONS = the best man wins, the strongest party gains the day [the persimmon tree sometimes attains to 60 ft.]; THE PERSIMMON IS ABOVE THE HUCKLEBERRY = a confession of inferiority; NOT A HUCKLEBERRY TO ONE’S PERSIMMON = not comparable; THAT’S PERSIMMON (or ALL PERSIMMON) = ‘That’s fine.’
