papaw

1 of 2

noun (1)

pa·​paw

less common spelling of pawpaw

1

pə-ˈpȯ  : papaya

2

ˈpä-(ˌ)pȯ 

ˈpȯ-

: a North American tree (Asimina triloba) of the custard-apple family with purple flowers and an edible green-skinned fruit

also : its fruit

pawpaw

2 of 2

noun (2)

paw·​paw

variants or less commonly papaw

1

pə-ˈpȯ  : papaya

2

ˈpä-(ˌ)pȯ 

ˈpȯ-

: a North American tree (Asimina triloba) of the custard-apple family with purple flowers and an edible green-skinned fruit

also : its fruit

Examples of papaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Many focused on home, family, mama, papaw and grampa. — Bob Hill, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Dec. 2025

Noun

Maclellan Island is an overgrown wilderness of pine trees, pawpaw, and rivercane in the Tennessee River, across from downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. — Daliah Singer, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

Water levels in lakes and rivers dropped too low for recreation, wildfires swept through the Wayne National Forest, and crop losses meant fewer of the region’s beloved pawpaw fruit when the annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival arrived. — Fiona Doherty, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

probably modification of Spanish papaya

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for papaw

• pawpaw
• quapaw

Kids Definition

papaw

variant of pawpaw

Medical Definition

papaw

noun

pa·​paw

variants or pawpaw

1

pə-ˈpȯ  : papaya

2

ˈpäp-(ˌ)ȯ, ˈpȯp-

: a North American tree (Asimina triloba of the family Annonaceae) with purple flowers and a yellow edible fruit

also : its fruit