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.].

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. [1913 Webster]
a quince tree or shrub. [1913 Webster]

Japan quince (Bot.), an Eastern Asiatic shrub (Cydonia Japonica, 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 (Zoöl.), a small gray and yellow curculio (Conotrachelus cratægi) whose larva lives in quinces. -- Quince tree (Bot.), the small tree (Cydonia vulgaris) which produces the quince.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Quince, n.
1 a hard acid pear-shaped fruit used as a preserve or flavouring.
2 any shrub or small tree of the genus Cydonia, esp. C. oblonga, bearing this fruit.

Etymology

ME, orig. collect. pl. of obs. quoyn, coyn, f. OF cooin f. L cotoneum var. of cydoneum (apple) of Cydonia in Crete

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