persimmon

[per-sim-uh n] /pərˈsɪm ən/
noun
1.
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.
2.
the fruit itself.
Origin
1605-15, Americanism; < Virginia Algonquian (E spelling) pessemmins, pichamins, pushemins, putchamins (unidentified initial element + reflex of Proto-Algonquian *-min- fruit, berry)
Examples from the web for persimmon
  • And be sure to know which type of persimmon you're buying before you chow down.
  • It opens with some apple and persimmon, but those drop off quickly, leaving behind yeast and malt as the dominant flavors.
  • There are weeks when the show announcements are about as flimsy as a wet persimmon.
  • Tea can also be made from fresh or dried persimmon leaves.
British Dictionary definitions for persimmon

persimmon

/pɜːˈsɪmən/
noun
1.
any of several tropical trees of the genus Diospyros, typically having hard wood and large orange-red fruit: family Ebenaceae
2.
the sweet fruit of any of these trees, which is edible when completely ripe
See also ebony (sense 1)
Word Origin
C17: of Algonquian origin; related to Delaware pasĭmĕnan dried fruit
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."