tomatillo

[ toh-muh-tee-oh, -teel-yoh ]

noun

, plural to·ma·til·loes, to·ma·til·los.

1. a plant, Physalis ixocarpa, of the nightshade family, native to Mexico, having yellow flowers with five blackish spots in the throat and bluish, sticky berries in a purple-veined calyx.

tomatillo

/ tɒməˈtɪləʊ; -ˈtiːjəʊ /

noun

1. a solanaceous plant, Physalis ixocarpa , of South America
2. the greenish-purple fruit of this plant that is a staple in Mexican cuisine Also calledgreen tomato

Word History and Origins

Origin of tomatillo¹

1910–15; < Spanish, diminutive of tomate tomato

Example Sentences

Blitz them up with chiles, onion, garlic, tomatillo and tomato for this tasty salsa.

From Washington Post