longan

[ long-guhn ]

noun

1. the small, one-seeded, greenish-brown fruit of a large evergreen tree, Euphoria longana, of the soapberry family, native to China and allied to the litchi.
2. the tree itself.

longan

/ ˈlɒŋɡən /

noun

1. a sapindaceous tree, Euphoria longan, of tropical and subtropical Asia, with small yellowish-white flowers and small edible fruits
2. the fruit of this tree, which is similar to but smaller than the litchi, having white juicy pulp and a single seed

Word History and Origins

Origin of longan¹

1725–35; < New Latin longanum < Chinese lóngyǎn literally, dragon's eye

Word History and Origins

Origin of longan¹

C18: from Chinese lung yen dragon's eye

Example Sentences

The U.S. also has two of the world’s best goaltenders in Ashleigh Johnson and Amanda Longan - a situation worth watching in the runup to Paris.

From Washington Times

The U.S. also has two of the world’s best goaltenders in Ashleigh Johnson and Amanda Longan — a situation worth watching in the runup to Paris.

From Seattle Times

We’d snack on lychee or longan on the drives back until we had to throw away the fruit seeds before returning to the U.S.

From Seattle Times

December's attack on the Longan Hotel in Kabul saw at least three people killed and 18 more injured, including five Chinese citizens.

From BBC

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban government, said the raids in the capital city and western Nimroz province on Wednesday targeted IS militants who organized recent attacks on Kabul’s Longan Hotel, Pakistan’s embassy and the military airport.

From Seattle Times