Etymology, English, Avocado

Etymology

Borrowed from American Spanish avocado, altered—by folk-etymological association with abogado (“lawyer”)—from the earlier aguacate, which comes from Classical Nahuatl āhuacatl (“avocado”). Doublet of abacate.

The first mention can be found in the 1696 catalog of Jamaican plants.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ævəˈkɑːdəʊ/
• (General American) enPR: ăvəkäʹdō, IPA^(key): /ɑvəˈkɑdoʊ/, [ɑvəˈkɑɾoʊ], /ævəˈkɑdoʊ/, [ævəˈkɑɾoʊ]
• Rhymes: -ɑːdəʊ

Noun

avocado (countable and uncountable, plural avocados or avocadoes)

1. The large, usually yellowish-green or black, pulpy fruit of the avocado tree.

   Synonyms: alligator pear, avocado pear, butter pear, butter fruit, abacate

2. The avocado tree, Persea americana, of the laurel family.
3. (color, chiefly uncountable) A dark chartreuse color, like the color of the skin of an avocado.