cucumber tree

noun

1. any of several American magnolias, especially Magnolia acuminata, having ovate leaves, yellowish-green bell-shaped flowers, and dark red, conelike fruit.
2. any of certain other trees, as an East Indian tree of the genus Averrhoa.

cucumber tree

noun

1. any of several American trees or shrubs of the genus Magnolia, esp M. acuminata, of E and central North America, having cup-shaped greenish flowers and cucumber-shaped fruits
2. an E Asian tree, Averrhoa bilimbi, with edible fruits resembling small cucumbers: family Averrhoaceae See also carambola

Word History and Origins

Origin of cucumber tree¹

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; so called from the resemblance of its fruit to cucumbers

Example Sentences

The large-leaved cucumber tree exceeds all other magnolias in the size of its leaves and flowers.

From Project Gutenberg

"That's him," said the woman, relinquishing the letter, and taking a seat under the shade of a young cucumber tree, where she proceeded to fill her pipe, while awaiting the reading of the missive.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a dugout or canoe, made by hollowing with axe and adz a section of a cucumber tree.

From Project Gutenberg

They are distinctly southern trees; some species under cultivation in the United States come from Asia, but the two most commonly grown in the Eastern States are the cucumber tree and the umbrella tree.

From Project Gutenberg

Occasionally, too, a stray whisper of breeze stole along the creek-bed and rustled the beeches, or stirred in the broad, fanlike leaves of the "cucumber trees."

From Project Gutenberg