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.
Origin
1765-75, Americanism; < Mississippi Valley Frenchpacane < Illinoispakani < Proto-Algonquian *paka·n- nut (derivative of *pake·- crack nuts)
Examples from the web for pecan
People didn't know that ice cream could be more exciting than butter pecan.
The campus is lined with native live oak and pecan trees as well as imported palm trees.
If you have a sweet tooth, don't miss the crispy pecan waffle, dressed with a pecan praline syrup.
Desserts range from autumn fruit crisp to brown butter pumpkin layer cake to chocolate pecan pie.
Sweet potato pecan pie and creme brulee are some of the dishes on the decadent dessert menu.
Dessert items include hot peanut pudding, peanut and pecan pudding, almond pudding and sorbet varieties.
Cheesecake and pecan brownie sundaes are available for dessert.
At the bakery counter you can pick fresh-baked muffins, cinnamon and pecan rolls, bagels and scones.
Brunch fare includes baked pecan-encrusted trout and various fruit crepes.
For something lighter, try the popular pear, pecan and cherry salad topped with homemade organic cherry vinaigrette.
British Dictionary definitions for pecan
pecan
/pɪˈkæn; ˈpiːkən/
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 Origin
C18: from Algonquian paccan; related to Ojibwa pagân nut with a hard shell, Cree pakan
Word Origin and History for pecan
n.
1712, paccan "the pecan tree," or a related hickory, from French pacane, from an Algonquian word meaning "nut" (cf. Cree pakan "hard-shelled nut," Ojibwa bagaan, Abenaki pagann, Fox /paka:ni/).