pawpaw

[ paw-paw ]

noun

1. a tree, Asimina triloba, of the annona family, native to the eastern United States, having large, oblong leaves and purplish flowers.
2. the fleshy, edible fruit of this tree.
3. papaya.

pawpaw

/ ˈpɔːˌpɔː /

noun

1. a variant of papaw papaya

Word History and Origins

Origin of pawpaw¹

First recorded in 1620–30; unexplained variant of papaye “papaya”; papaya

Example Sentences

"I don't think any of us expected it to be the next kiwi at Kroger," said Kirk Pomper, a horticulturist and research lead of Kentucky State University's pawpaw research program.

From Salon

So pawpaw trees rely on pollinators like zebra swallowtails to produce fruit.

From Seattle Times

What worked for chickpeas may not work for pawpaw and other fruit species.

From Salon

On his list for building “food habitats” are not just native fruiting shrubs and trees such as blueberries, elderberries, beach plums, persimmons and pawpaws but herbaceous perennials with edible features.

From Seattle Times

But they produce a wide range of vegetables, fruit and herbs, including Roxbury Russet apples, native blueberries and pawpaws, a nutritious fruit native to North America.

From Salon