rambutan

[ ram-boot-n ]

noun

1. the bright-red oval fruit of a Malayan, sapindaceous tree, Nephelium lappaceum, covered with soft spines, or hairs, and having a subacid taste.
2. the tree itself.

rambutan

/ ræmˈbuːtən /

noun

1. a sapindaceous tree, Nephelium lappaceum , native to SE Asia, that has bright red edible fruit
2. the fruit of this tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of rambutan¹

1700–10; < Malay, equivalent to rambut hair + -an nominalizing suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of rambutan¹

C18: from Malay, from rambut hair

Example Sentences

There was early success for the catchers on one street, with three of the macaques falling for the ruse and ending up trapped because they had fancied a taste of rambutan fruit.

From Seattle Times

“I feel the joy when I see people smile when we could save their loved ones. Remembering those smiles is new energy for me when I’m stressed out at work,” said Mr. Adi, who recalled being given a duck and rambutan by one grateful family whose relative he helped save.

From New York Times

The bargain buyers drifted out of a popular Little Saigon fruit shop with tote bags full of pale brown longan and hairy red rambutan, barely glancing at the dirt-smeared face of Duc Tran.

From Los Angeles Times

He said Vietnam expects to begin exporting longan to Japan in September, followed by other produce such as grapefruit, avocado and rambutan, while opening its market for Japanese grapes.

From Reuters

But at this point in the meal, my thoughts always turn to Bonnie’s fruit plate, a seasonal spread that lately has brought clementines, dragon fruit speckled with black seeds, rambutan peeking out from inside its hairy rind, elongated purple grapes, maybe a ripe wedge or two of pumpkin-orange fuyu persimmon.

From New York Times