palo verde

noun

palo ver·​de ˌpa-lō-ˈver-(ˌ)dā 

ˌpä-,

-ˈvər-  ˌpa-lə-ˈvər-dē 

variants or less commonly paloverde or Palo Verde or Paloverde

1

: any of several small spiny trees or shrubs (genus Parkinsonia synonym Cercidium) of the legume family that have greenish branches and are found chiefly in dry regions of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico

2

: jerusalem thorn

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish, literally, green tree

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1