genipap

[ jen-uh-pap ]

noun

1. a tropical American tree, Genipa americana, of the madder family, bearing an edible fruit used for preserves or in making beverages.
2. the fruit itself.

genipap

/ ˈdʒɛnɪˌpæp /

noun

1. an evergreen Caribbean rubiaceous tree, Genipa americana, with reddish-brown edible orange-like fruits
2. the fruit of this tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of genipap¹

1605–15; < Portuguese genipapo < Tupi ianipaba

Word History and Origins

Origin of genipap¹

C17: from Portuguese genipapo, from Tupi

Example Sentences

On the second to last day of the Wyra’whaw ritual, mothers painted their children’s bodies with the juice of the genipap fruit.

From Seattle Times

Many of them were unclothed, and some had adorned their bodies with exquisite ornamentations: monkey-tooth necklaces; swirls of black pigment from the genipap fruit; swaths of red pigment from the uruku berry.

From The New Yorker

Genipa americana.—This belongs to the cinchona family, and produces the fruit called genipap or marmalade box.

From Project Gutenberg