pecan

[ pi-kahn, -kan, pee-kan ]

noun

1. a tall hickory tree, Carya illinoinensis, of the southern U.S. and Mexico, cultivated for its oval, smooth-shelled, edible nuts: the state tree of Texas.
2. a nut of this tree.

pecan

/ ˈpiːkən; pɪˈkæn /

noun

1. a hickory tree, Carya pecan (or C. illinoensis ), of the southern US, having deeply furrowed bark and edible nuts
2. the smooth oval nut of this tree, which has a sweet oily kernel

Word History and Origins

Origin of pecan¹

1765–75, Americanism; < Mississippi Valley French pacane < Illinois pakani < Proto-Algonquian *paka·n- nut (derivative of *pake·- crack nuts)

Word History and Origins

Origin of pecan¹

C18: from Algonquian paccan; related to Ojibwa pagân nut with a hard shell, Cree pakan

Example Sentences

Starbucks and Dunkin’ have both experimented with other “fall” flavors before, like maple pecan, brown sugar, and vanilla spice, to make sure they have something for those who can’t stand pumpkin spice.

From Eater

Middle Georgia is mostly flat, hot, and full of pecan trees.

From Outside Online

In the sack, Rose had placed a folded dress, three handfuls of pecans and a braid of her hair, and “told her” — Rose’s words recorded in red stitches on the bag by her descendant — “It be filled with my Love always.”

From Washington Post

Spread the pecans out on a small, rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 10 minutes, shaking midway through, until the nuts are deep golden brown and fragrant.

From Washington Post

I opted for plump golden raisins, with their sweet honey notes, and toasted pecans, very finely chopped.

From Washington Post

The rest of Perry, with its population of around 15,000, is ringed by churches, pecan groves, and cotton fields.

From The Daily Beast

INSIDER TIP: Bring a collapsible sports chair and (try to) leave room for pecan pie and bread pudding.

From The Daily Beast

Outside, oak and hickory and pecan trees dotted the rolling grassland.

From The Daily Beast

Girls weighed 90 pounds and barfed after eating a whole half-gallon of butter pecan ice cream.

From The Daily Beast

He moves past the thick-​trunked oak and pecan trees, headed for the city bus stop two blocks away.

From The Daily Beast

The spice-wood (laurus benzoin) and the pecan (carya olivformis) first occurred to-day.

From Project Gutenberg

Its flavor can not compare with that of the pecan, hickory, or black walnut.

From Project Gutenberg

This class of nuts is adopted to the north where the pecan is unsatisfactory.

From Project Gutenberg

The pecan nuts mother usually bought ready shelled so Betsey had only to measure them out with the other ingredients.

From Project Gutenberg

Taking some of the cream, she molded it into balls, pressed flat and put half a pecan on each side.

From Project Gutenberg