mealy

Imagine biting into an old apple. Instead of a crisp crunch, it feels dry, grainy, and almost powdery in your mouth. That's mealy. The word usually describes food, especially fruits and vegetables, that has lost its firm, fresh texture. An apple, pear, or tomato can turn mealy when it is no longer at its best. It does not always mean rotten, but it does mean the texture is not pleasant. You will also see the related phrase "mealy-mouthed," which describes speech that is not direct or clear.

The word "mealy" first referred to something covered with or like meal, such as flour or cornmeal. From there, it came to describe a dry, grainy, slightly powdery texture in other things, especially food. If something is mealy, it feels soft and breaks down into tiny particles when you bite it or touch it, instead of staying firm or juicy.

You'll most often see "mealy" when someone is describing produce. A mealy apple lacks crispness and juice; it feels grainy on the tongue rather than firm. The word can also be used for other foods with that same dry, crumbly feel. In some cases, though, the idea is not completely negative. For example, a mealy potato is often high in starch and can be good for baking or mashing. Even then, the main idea is still the same: the texture is dry and loose rather than smooth, crisp, or juicy.

The plain word mealy is mainly about texture, but it also appears in the phrase mealy-mouthed. A mealy-mouthed person speaks in a way that avoids being direct, clear, or honest. So in everyday use, mealy usually points to food that is dry, grainy, and not fresh-feeling, while the related expression mealy-mouthed extends that idea to speech that feels weak or evasive.