To*ma"to (?), n.; pl. Tomatoes (#). [Sp. or Pg. tomate, of American Indian origin; cf. Mexican tomail.] Bot.
The fruit of a plant of the Nightshade family (Lycopersicum esculentun); also, the plant itself. The fruit, which is called also love apple, is usually of a rounded, flattened form, but often irregular in shape. It is of a bright red or yellow color, and is eaten either cooked or uncooked.
Tomato gall Zool., a large gall consisting of a mass of irregular swellings on the stems and leaves of grapevines. They are yellowish green, somewhat tinged with red, and produced by the larva of a small two-winged fly (Lasioptera vitis). -- Tomato sphinx Zool., the adult or imago of the tomato worm. It closely resembles the tobacco hawk moth. Called also tomato hawk moth. See Illust. of Hawk moth. -- Tomato worm Zool., the larva of a large hawk moth (Sphinx, ∨ Macrosila, quinquemaculata) which feeds upon the leaves of the tomato and potato plants, often doing considerable damage. Called also potato worm.
© Webster 1913.