dioon

[ dahy-oh-on ]

noun

1. any of several Mexican and Central American palmlike plants belonging to the genus Dioon, of the cycad family, having a crown of stiff, pinnate leaves.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dioon¹

< New Latin (1843) < Greek di- di- ¹ + ōión egg; so named because the seeds are borne in pairs

Example Sentences

Dioon, a genus of Cycads, natives of Mexico, where meal is prepared from the starchy seeds.

From Project Gutenberg