pitahaya

[ pit-uh-hahy-uh ]

noun

1. any of several cacti of the genus Selenicereus and related genera, of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America, bearing edible round or oval fruit usually having scaly skin and sweet pulp filled with seeds.
2. the fruit of any of several cacti of the genus Selenicereus and related genera.

pitahaya

/ ˌpɪtəˈhaɪə /

noun

1. any giant cactus of Central America and the SW United States, esp the saguaro
2. Also calleddragon fruit the edible red pulpy fruit of such cacti, which has a mild sweet flavour

Word History and Origins

Origin of pitahaya¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1750–60; from Latin American Spanish, from Taíno

Word History and Origins

Origin of pitahaya¹

C18: Mexican Spanish, from Haitian Creole

Example Sentences

A lifelong farmer, he said he chose to grow pitahaya over a decade ago because he was intrigued by the nutritional benefits.

From Washington Times

For instance, one “deregulatory action” lifts a ban on imports of pitahaya, or dragon fruit, from Ecuador.

From New York Times

But here, within a stone’s throw from a stand of pitahaya organ pipe cactus, there are thickets of mesquite, their favorite habitat up north.

From New York Times

Fruit they find too on several species of cactus; the best of them on the pitahaya, whose tall rigid stems, with limbs like the branches of a candelabrum, tower up around their camp.

From Project Gutenberg

Follow the sahuaro and the pitahaya into the tropics again, and with their cousin, the organ cactus, you will find them growing a soft thorn that would hardly penetrate clothing.

From Project Gutenberg