pistachio

[ pi-stash-ee-oh, -stah-shee-oh ]

noun

, plural pis·tach·i·os.

1. the nut of a Eurasian tree, Pistacia vera, of the cashew family, containing an edible, greenish kernel.
2. the kernel itself, used for flavoring.
3. the tree itself.
4. pistachio nut flavor.
5. pistachio green.

pistachio

/ pɪˈstɑːʃɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. an anacardiaceous tree, Pistacia vera, of the Mediterranean region and W Asia, with small hard-shelled nuts
2. Also calledpistachio nut the nut of this tree, having an edible green kernel
3. the sweet flavour of the pistachio nut, used esp in ice creams

adjective

1. of a yellowish-green colour

Word History and Origins

Origin of pistachio¹

1375–1425; < Italian pistacchio < Latin pistācium < Greek pistákion pistachio nut, diminutive of pistákē pistachio tree < Middle Persian *pistak ( Persian pista ); replacing late Middle English pistace < Middle French < Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of pistachio¹

C16: via Italian and Latin from Greek pistakion pistachio nut, from pistakē pistachio tree, from Persian pistah

Example Sentences

As for desserts, the most imaginative choice is a riff on shrikhand, sweetened strained yogurt flavored with cardamom and pistachios.

From Washington Post

The chain of pistachio modules wends around the facility in the shape of a paper clip, a contortion necessary so that the approximately 450-meter-long accelerator fits in the 150-meter-long tunnel that houses it.

From Science News

The Guardian spoke to other chefs who’ve used peas, sunchokes, zucchini, and pistachios as avocado replacements.

From Eater

Avoiding border patrols and 40-year-old mines left over from the Iran-Iraq War, they will slip through terraces of walnuts and almonds, then copses of wild oaks and pistachios.

From Outside Online

I bought a bag of pistachios, which are loaded with melatonin, and ate a handful every hour.

From Washington Post

If you tend to inhale your food without realizing how much you consumed, opt for nibbles like in-shell pistachio nuts.

From The Daily Beast

Iran's next two exports after oil are carpets and pistachio nuts.

From The Daily Beast

Pistachio nuts are lower in fat, lower in calories, and higher in fiber than most other nuts.

From The Daily Beast

This version is made with rose-water syrup, lending a particularly inviting sweet aroma to the pistachio-filled treats.

From The Daily Beast

Eaten all over India, kulfi comes in such flavors as pistachio, cardamom, mango, and saffron.

From The Daily Beast

Pistachio nuts, which are light green in color, are either chopped or used in halves on chocolates or bonbons.

From Project Gutenberg

The colour is green, grey, brown or nearly black, but usually a characteristic shade of yellowish-green or pistachio-green.

From Project Gutenberg

The names thallite (from θαλλός, “a young shoot”) and pistacite (from πιστάκια, “pistachio nut”) have reference to the colour.

From Project Gutenberg

The oak and the terebinth are sometimes confounded together; but a small kind of the latter produces pistachio nuts.

From Project Gutenberg

And of course some of it we will color green, to put green pistachio-nuts on, and pink, to put bits of rose-leaves on.

From Project Gutenberg