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Webster 1913 Edition


Avocado

‖

Avˊo-ca′do

,
Noun.
[Corrupted from the Mexican
ahuacatl
: cf. Sp.
aguacate
, F.
aguacaté
,
avocat
, G.
avogado
baum.]
The pulpy fruit of
Persea gratissima
, a tree of tropical America. It is about the size and shape of a large pear; – called also
avocado pear
,
alligator pear
,
midshipman’s butter
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Avocado

AVOCA'DO

,
Noun.
The Persea, or alligator-pear, a species ranked under the genus Laurus, a native of the W. Indies. The tree has a straight trunk, long oval pointed leaves, and flowers of six petals disposed like a star, produced in clusters, on the extremities of the branches. The fruit is insipid.
Avignon-berry, the fruit of a species of lycium, so called from the city, Avignon, in France. The berry is less than a pea, of a yellowish green color, and bitter astringent taste; used by dyers and painters for staining yellow.