coco
UK[ˈkəʊkəʊ]US[ˈkoʊkoʊ]
n
The tropical palm tree that produces coconuts.
n
Informal term for a coconut.
Etymology
The word 'coco' entered English in the 16th century from Portuguese and Spanish, where it meant 'grinning face' or 'bogeyman.' This name was applied to the coconut because the three indentations (eyes) at the base of the shell were thought to resemble a grotesque human face. The term 'coconut' itself is a later formation, adding the English word 'nut' to the borrowed 'coco.' Thus, the word's journey reflects European explorers' initial encounter with the tropical fruit and their descriptive, anthropomorphic interpretation of its physical appearance.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. It does not contain separable morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
The drink was garnished with a slice of fresh coco.
We rested in the shade of a tall coco palm.
He cracked open the coco to drink the water inside.