Main Entry:

jo·jo·ba

Pronunciation:

\hə-ˈhō-bə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Mexican Spanish, of Uto-Aztecan origin; akin to O'odham hohowai jojoba, Yaqui hohoovam

Date:

1900

: a shrub or small tree (Simmondsia chinensis syn. S. californica) of the box family of southwestern North America with edible seeds that yield a valuable liquid wax used especially in cosmetics