How old is this word? (in the meaning of “pear cider”, in case there is another one)

c1330, says the OED’s first citation, but it shows up as an element in proper names back to the 12th century and in an earlier (13th cent.) passage in which they are not sure whether to consider it an English or Anglo-Norman word.

I would love to try it.  You can find “pear cider” fairly easily in the US, which I enjoy, but it seems to be pear-flavored apple cider.

It does? I was under the impression it was made entirely from pears.

"Real Perry” is made only from pears. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry

I think Dr T meant he wanted to try real perry as opposed to pear cider (though logically I’d have taken pear cider to mean a drink made from pears only). My local pub sells Jacques Fruit Cider which sounds like tautology but which is cider from apples flavoured with other fruit - raspberry I think.

Yes, I see that now. I don’t think I’d had my morning caffeine fix when I read that.

I haven’t come across this word since the late fifties, early sixties, when there was a long-running advertising campaign on British TV for Babycham, described in the accompanying jingle as “the genuine champagne perry”.

I can still sing the jingle, if anybody wants to listen ...

A nostalgic article by Philip Norman about these carefree long-gone days