tamarillo

noun

tam·​a·​ril·​lo ˌta-mə-ˈri-(ˌ)lō 

: the reddish edible fruit of an arborescent shrub (Cyphomandra betacea) of the nightshade family that is native to South America but is grown commercially elsewhere

also : the shrub itself

Examples of tamarillo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some videos even turn into etymology and history lessons, like this video about tree tomatoes, where Schlegel explains how they became known by the name tamarillo because of a marketing attempt by the New Zealand Tree Tomato Promotions Council to entice export buyers. —Antara Sinha, Bon Appétit, 20 Dec. 2022

Vegetables: Calabaza, chayote, cherry tomato, collards, dasheen, lima bean, snap bean, Malabar spinach, malanga, New Zealand spinach, okra, hot pepper, roselle, Seminole pumpkin, Southern pea, sweet potato, tamarillo, yam and yard-long bean. 4. —Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 28 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

alteration of tomatillo

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above