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persimmon

[ per-sim-uhn ]
/ pərˈsɪm ən /
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noun
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

First recorded in 1605–15, Americanism; from Virginia Algonquian (English spelling) pessemmins, pichamins, pushemins, putchamins (unidentified initial element + reflex of Proto-Algonquian (unattested) -min- “fruit, berry”)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use persimmon in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for persimmon

persimmon
/ (pɜːˈsɪmən) /

noun
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

Word Origin for persimmon

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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