ackee
Americannoun
-
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.
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
Etymology
Origin of ackee
First recorded in 1785–95; from a dialect of Kru, a West African family of languages
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They are distinguished by their unusually flaky crusts and wide selection, which run from traditional fillings like callaloo and ackee to a beef-and-cheese mixture that imitates a cheeseburger.
From New York Times • Jan. 11, 2022
Whenever I had a pelvic floor physical therapy appointment, I'd return with a large container of ackee and saltfish from the local spot that really was not on the way home.
From Salon • Jul. 13, 2021
There are also several seafood options, including brown stew, which tastes as though it’s been slow-cooked for hours, red snapper, ackee and salt fish, and jerk shrimp.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 23, 2019
Miss Ollie’s for an upscale yet homey atmosphere and large helpings of Caribbean specialties like jerk shrimp and salt fish and ackee.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 28, 2018
In Jamaica, we’re greeted by dozens of large butterflies, the Giant Swallowtail, as people sitting on the floor eat special dishes, like ackee and saltfish.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
