pawpaw

Also pa·paw

[paw-paw]

noun

1. a tree, Asimina triloba, of the annona family, native to the eastern United States, having large, oblong leaves and purplish flowers.

2. the fleshy, edible fruit of this tree.

3. papaya.

pawpaw

/ ˈpɔːˌpɔː /

noun

1. a variant of papaw papaya

Word History and Origins

Origin of pawpaw¹

First recorded in 1620–30; unexplained variant of papaye “papaya”; papaya

Example Sentences

He went from standard citrus, apricot and avocado to a more exotic collection, adding finger limes, valentine pummelos, jaboticaba, cherimoya and pawpaw.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"The place was greener, not only mangroves, but all by the shoreline - there were pawpaw trees, palm trees and more. But during the spills, the destruction has polluted everywhere," the 50-year-old mother of six said.

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"I don't think any of us expected it to be the next kiwi at Kroger," said Kirk Pomper, a horticulturist and research lead of Kentucky State University's pawpaw research program.

Read more on Salon

Tristan Shaw pointed at a young pawpaw, a species that is self-incompatible and cannot use pollen produced on a given tree to pollinate flowers of the same plant.

Read more on Seattle Times

What worked for chickpeas may not work for pawpaw and other fruit species.

Read more on Salon