coconut
UK[ˈkəʊkənʌt]US[ˈkoʊkənʌt]
n
The large brown seed of a tropical palm tree, consisting of a hard shell lined with edible white flesh and containing a clear liquid.
Etymology
The word 'coconut' entered English in the 16th century from Portuguese and Spanish 'coco'. Iberian sailors used 'coco', meaning 'grinning face' or 'bogeyman', to describe the three indentations on the base of the nut, which they thought resembled a grotesque face. This Portuguese term was combined with the English word 'nut' to form 'coconut'. The ultimate origin of 'coco' is uncertain but is likely from Iberian Romance languages. The palm tree itself is native to the Indo-Pacific region, and the name reflects the European explorers' encounter with and naming of this exotic fruit.
Analysis
The word is a loanword from Portuguese and Spanish, derived from a combination of Iberian Romance languages and non-European sources. It is not productively formed from separable English morphemes.
Examples
She grated some fresh coconut to sprinkle on the cake.
The coconut fell from the tall palm tree with a loud thud.
He drank the clear, refreshing water from inside the young coconut.