Word Study
rambutan
CIDE DICTIONARY
rambutan, n. [Malay ramb, fr. rambut hair of the head.].
A Malayan fruit produced by the tree Nephelium lappaceum , and closely related to the litchi nut. It is bright red, oval in shape, covered with coarse hairs (whence the name), and contains a pleasant acid pulp. Called also ramboostan . [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
rambutan, n.
1 a red plum-sized prickly fruit.
2 an East Indian tree, Nephelium lappaceum, that bears this.
1 a red plum-sized prickly fruit.
2 an East Indian tree, Nephelium lappaceum, that bears this.
Etymology
Malay rambutan f. rambut hair, in allusion to its spines
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