The bark is smooth and grey when young, becoming scaly and flaking away in squarish plates to reveal darker brown layers when about 30 years old.

[6][7] The leaves are 6–14 centimetres (2–6 inches) long and broad with a 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) petiole, dark green on both sides, with five to nine acute lobes; the basal pair of lobes are spreading, the rest more forward-pointing and decreasing in size to the leaf apex, and with finely toothed margins; the undersides have small hairs when young, but both sides are smooth and shiny when older; the autumn colour is yellow to red-brown.

The fruit is a globose to ovoid pome 10–15 mm in diameter, greenish to russet or brown, patterned with small pale lenticel spots when mature in mid to late autumn.

Pre-Linnean polynomials include Crataegus foliis cordatis acutis: lacinulis acutis serratis, "the hawthorn with sharp cordate leaves [and] sharp serrated lobes", from Hortus Cliffortianus, 1737, and Mespilus, apii folio, sylvestris non spinosa "the spineless mespil of the woods, with celery leaves", from Bauhin's Pinax Theatri Botanici, 1623.

[12] Until recently it was commonly known as Sorbus torminalis but since about 2010 it has become increasingly apparent from genetic studies that it is not very closely related to the pinnate-leaved plants in that genus.

This in turn is an adaptation of the (hypothetical) Proto-Celtic term *kurmi, and was introduced into the Roman language by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History of 77 AD.

[17][18] In Anglo-Saxon, *kurmi became syrfe, either by re-importation from Vulgar Latin[19] or directly from the Celtic, and has since morphed into a variety of forms, including "Surrey".

Some authors have suggested that the pattern of dots on the fruits,[21] or the appearance of the bark, is similar to that of a checkers board or a pub sign;[20][22] but it could simply be that "chequers" and "chokers" are more evolutions of the original cervesa.

[8] Its Ellenberg values in Britain are L=4, F=5, R=6, N=5 and S=0, which means it grows in shady, moist woodland on neutral soils and with moderate fertility, and no tolerance for salt.

Over time, the tunnels can damage the tree's structure, making it prone to diseases, decay, other infestations such as fungal infections or attacks from bark beetles like Scolytus mali.

Wood infested by the goat moth has a strong vinegar scent, with a substance described as “fermenting juice” present at the base of the trunk.