persimmon
[per-sim-uh n]
- any of several trees of the genus Diospyros, especially D. virginiana, of North America, bearing astringent, plumlike fruit that is sweet and edible when ripe, and D. kaki, of Japan and China, bearing soft, red or orange fruit.
- the fruit itself.
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Origin of persimmon
1605–15, Americanism; < Virginia Algonquian (E spelling) pessemmins, pichamins, pushemins, putchamins (unidentified initial element + reflex of Proto-Algonquian *-min- fruit, berry)
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for persimmon
Contemporary Examples
Sometimes the flowers multiplied in shades of persimmon or turned into two-dimensional appliqué.
The beautiful garden is completely bare except for one persimmon tree that has no leaves.
Historical Examples
This field we overlooked through a fence-row of persimmon and wild plum.
The CavalierGeorge Washington Cable
He soon discovered, of course, that the longest pole knocked the persimmon.
Life: Its True GenesisR. W. Wright
The persimmon has only about ten days in which it will fall bud.
I have been in the forest, under the persimmon and butternut trees.
The Citizen-SoldierJohn Beatty
There was a fruity odour of persimmon and wild grape forever in the air.
Judith of the CumberlandsAlice MacGowan
persimmon
- any of several tropical trees of the genus Diospyros, typically having hard wood and large orange-red fruit: family Ebenaceae
- the sweet fruit of any of these trees, which is edible when completely ripe
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See also ebony (def. 1)
Word Origin
C17: of Algonquian origin; related to Delaware pasĭmĕnan dried fruit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for persimmon
n.
1610s, from Powhatan (Algonquian) pasimenan "fruit dried artificially," from pasimeneu "he dries fruit," containing proto-Algonquian */-min-/ "fruit, berry."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper