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ackee
or ak·ee
[ ak-ee ]
noun
- an evergreen tree, Blighia sapida, of the soapberry family, native to tropical West Africa and introduced to Jamaica, where it has become a prominent and valued part of the island’s horticulture:
a cultivated grove of ackees.
- the fruit of this tree, used in Caribbean cooking: although the black seeds and unripe arils are highly toxic, the fully ripened arils are edible and prized for their palatability:
You must come to Jamaica for authentic ackee and saltfish—it’s our national dish.
ackee
/ ˈækiː /
noun
- a sapindaceous tree, Blighia sapida, native to tropical Africa and cultivated in the Caribbean for its fruit, edible when cooked
- the red pear-shaped fruit of this tree
- a sapindaceous tree, Melicoccus bijugatus, that grows on some Caribbean islands and is valued for its timber and edible fruit
- the green tough-skinned berry of this tree
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Word History and Origins
Origin of ackee1
First recorded in 1785–95; from a dialect of Kru, a West African family of languages
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Word History and Origins
Origin of ackee1
C18: of African origin
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