ackee

or ak·ee

[ ak-ee ]

noun

1. an evergreen tree, Blighia sapida, of the soapberry family, native to tropical West Africa and introduced to Jamaica, where it has become a prominent and valued part of the island’s horticulture:

   a cultivated grove of ackees.

2. the fruit of this tree, used in Caribbean cooking: although the black seeds and unripe arils are highly toxic, the fully ripened arils are edible and prized for their palatability:

   You must come to Jamaica for authentic ackee and saltfish—it’s our national dish.

ackee

/ ˈækiː /

noun

1. 1. a sapindaceous tree, Blighia sapida, native to tropical Africa and cultivated in the Caribbean for its fruit, edible when cooked
   2. the red pear-shaped fruit of this tree
2. a sapindaceous tree, Melicoccus bijugatus, that grows on some Caribbean islands and is valued for its timber and edible fruit
3. the green tough-skinned berry of this tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of ackee¹

First recorded in 1785–95; from a dialect of Kru, a West African family of languages

Word History and Origins

Origin of ackee¹

C18: of African origin

Example Sentences

Oh, and some seriously good, delectably crisp Jamaican ackee and saltfish bites.

From Salon

Here is a breakdown of where to stay, what to eat and what to do in the city, from finding delectably crisp Jamaican ackee and saltfish bites to designing my own custom pair of sneakers.

From Salon

They are distinguished by their unusually flaky crusts and wide selection, which run from traditional fillings like callaloo and ackee to a beef-and-cheese mixture that imitates a cheeseburger.

From New York Times

Whenever I had a pelvic floor physical therapy appointment, I'd return with a large container of ackee and saltfish from the local spot that really was not on the way home.

From Salon

There are also several seafood options, including brown stew, which tastes as though it’s been slow-cooked for hours, red snapper, ackee and salt fish, and jerk shrimp.

From Los Angeles Times