macadamia
UK[ˌmækəˈdeɪmiə]US[ˌmækəˈdeɪmiə]
n
An edible, hard-shelled nut from an Australian tree, often roasted and salted.
Etymology
The word 'macadamia' is a modern scientific Latin term coined in the 19th century. It was named in honor of Dr. John Macadam, a Scottish-born Australian chemist and politician, by the botanist Ferdinand von Mueller. The naming follows the common practice of using the suffix '-ia' to form taxonomic genus names from personal names. Therefore, the word's logic is purely commemorative, with no semantic link to the properties of the nut itself, tracing its origin directly to a surname rather than to ancient Greek or Latin roots.
Analysis
The word is a modern taxonomic name formed from a personal name. It is not composed of classical morphemes with independent meanings.
Examples
She sprinkled chopped macadamia nuts over the salad.
Macadamia oil is prized in cosmetics for its moisturizing properties.
The cookies were rich with white chocolate and macadamia nuts.