cherimoya
UK[ˌtʃɛrɪˈmɔɪə]US[ˌtʃɛrəˈmɔɪə]
n
a large, green, heart-shaped tropical fruit with sweet, creamy white flesh.
n
the tropical american tree that bears this fruit.
Etymology
the word 'cherimoya' entered english in the 18th century from spanish, which itself adapted it from the quechua language of the andes. the original quechua term is believed to be 'chirimuya', from 'chiri' meaning 'cold' and 'muya' meaning 'seeds' or 'circle of seeds', likely referring to the fruit's cultivation in cool, high valleys. the phonetic journey from quechua to spanish to english illustrates the transfer of new world flora to european languages. the name has remained largely intact, preserving its indigenous roots while becoming the standard term for this fruit in global horticulture and cuisine.
Analysis
this is a simplex word, a direct borrowing from spanish. it cannot be meaningfully segmented into morphemes using its current english spelling.
Examples
the cherimoya is often described as tasting like a blend of banana, pineapple, and strawberry.
we bought a ripe cherimoya from the market to make a smoothie.
the cherimoya tree requires a subtropical climate to thrive and bear fruit.