I. ˈtärt adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English teart sharp, severe; akin to Middle High German traz spite
Date: before 12th century
1. : agreeably sharp or acid to the taste
a tart apple
2. : marked by a biting, acrimonious, or cutting quality
a tart rejoinder
• tart·ish ˈtär-tish adjective
• tart·ly adverb
• tart·ness noun
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English tarte, from Anglo-French
Date: 14th century
1. : a dish baked in a pastry shell : pie : as
a. : a small pie or pastry shell without a top containing jelly, custard, or fruit
b. : a small pie made of pastry folded over a filling
2.
[earlier slang, girlfriend, probably short for jam tart, rhyming slang for sweetheart ]
: prostitute