custard apple

American  

noun

1. any of several trees of the genus Annona, as the cherimoya.

2. any of several other trees, as the pawpaw, Asimina triloba, bearing fruit with soft, edible pulp.

3. the fruit of any of these trees.

---

custard apple British  

noun

1. a West Indian tree, Annona reticulata: family Annonaceae

2. the large heart-shaped fruit of this tree, which has a fleshy edible pulp

3. any of several related trees or fruits, esp the papaw and sweetsop

---

Etymology

Origin of custard apple

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

Our team has been working to climate-proof five popular fruits — banana, the single most commonly bought item in supermarkets, as well as pineapple, passionfruit, custard apples and paw paw.

From Salon

"It is commonly referred to as the 'custard apple' because of all the sweetness. Try a cherimoya and you'll understand why Mark Twain called the fruit 'the most delicious known to man.'"

From Salon

China's customs administration said it had repeatedly detected pests called "Planococcus minor" in sugar apples, also known as sweetsops or custard apples, and wax apples from Taiwan.

From Reuters

Pawpaws are the northernmost member of the mostly tropical custard apple family, kin to soursops, cherimoyas, sugar apples and ylang-ylangs.

From New York Times

Treat breakfast of berries, custard apple, chocolate digestives and cappuccino.

From BBC