pawpaw

American  

[paw-paw] / ˈpɔˌpɔ /

Also papaw

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.

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pawpaw British  

/ ˈpɔːˌpɔː /

noun

1. a variant of papaw papaya

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Etymology

Origin of pawpaw

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

Example Sentences

Buddy, Pawpaw and now Professor Plum — his three woody companions of the last few years — were collected as seedlings and grown during the summer.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 29, 2023

Ron Powell, the former president of the North American Pawpaw Growers' Association, or NAPGA, said he's already noticed changes: His grove of about 500 trees are ripening weeks earlier than usual some years.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2022

“Mawmaw and Pawpaw were incredibly kind and generous to us,” she said.

From Washington Post • Aug. 30, 2018

Walker’s father, whom James called Pawpaw, often drove him home from school.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2018

We passed the first night of our journey at Pawpaw Grove--so named from the number of pawpaw-trees which grow in it, but which here scarcely find the summer long enough to perfect their fruit.

From Letters of a Traveller Notes of Things Seen in Europe and America by Bryant, William Cullen