Definition of "wall-fruit" [wall-fruit]

• Fruit which, to be ripened, must be planted against a wall. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "The cherries are succeeded by the apricots and peaches, which are all standards, and of consequence better flavoured than what we call wall-fruit."
• "That power was not, indeed, very extensive; however, in common with the rats, I sate rent free; and as Dr. Johnson has recorded that he never but once in his life had as much wall-fruit as he could eat, so let me be grateful that on that single occasion I had as large a choice of apartments in a London mansion as I could possibly desire."
• "She was handsome, too, when he came to look, very handsome when he came to look again, -- endowed with that city beauty which is like the beauty of wall-fruit, something finer in certain respects than can be reared off the pavement."