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ackee
or ak·ee
[ ak-ee ]
/ ˈæk i /
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noun
an evergreen tree, Blighia sapida, of the soapberry family, native to tropical West Africa and introduced to Jamaica, where it has become a prominent and valued part of the island’s horticulture: a cultivated grove of ackees.
the fruit of this tree, used in Caribbean cooking: although the black seeds and unripe arils are highly toxic, the fully ripened arils are edible and prized for their palatability: You must come to Jamaica for authentic ackee and saltfish—it’s our national dish.
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Also ac·hee .
Origin of ackee
First recorded in 1785–95; from a dialect of Kru, a West African family of languages
Words nearby ackee
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
British Dictionary definitions for ackee
ackee
akee
/ (ˈækiː) /
noun
- a sapindaceous tree, Blighia sapida, native to tropical Africa and cultivated in the Caribbean for its fruit, edible when cooked
- the red pear-shaped fruit of this tree
a sapindaceous tree, Melicoccus bijugatus, that grows on some Caribbean islands and is valued for its timber and edible fruit
the green tough-skinned berry of this tree
Word Origin for ackee
C18: of African origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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