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