Tamarind

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tamarind \Tam"a*rind\, n. [It. tamarindo, or Sp. tamarindo, or
     Pg. tamarindo, tamarinho, from Ar. tamarhind[imac],
     literally, Indian date; tamar a dried date + Hind India: cf.
     F. tamarin. Cf. {Hindu}.] (Bot.)
     1. A leguminous tree ({Tamarindus Indica}) cultivated both
        the Indies, and the other tropical countries, for the sake


        of its shade, and for its fruit. The trunk of the tree is
        lofty and large, with wide-spreading branches; the flowers
        are in racemes at the ends of the branches. The leaves are
        small and finely pinnated.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. One of the preserved seed pods of the tamarind, which
        contain an acid pulp, and are used medicinally and for
        preparing a pleasant drink.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Tamarind fish}, a preparation of a variety of East Indian
        fish with the acid pulp of the tamarind fruit.
  
     {Velvet tamarind}.
        (a) A West African leguminous tree ({Codarium
            acutifolium}).
        (b) One of the small black velvety pods, which are used
            for food in Sierra Leone.
  
     {Wild tamarind} (Bot.), a name given to certain trees
        somewhat resembling the tamarind, as the {Lysiloma
        latisiliqua} of Southern Florida, and the {Pithecolobium
        filicifolium} of the West Indies.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  tamarind
       n 1: long-lived tropical evergreen tree with a spreading crown
            and feathery evergreen foliage and fragrant flowers
            yielding hard yellowish wood and long pods with edible
            chocolate-colored acidic pulp [syn: {tamarind tree}, {tamarindo},
             {Tamarindus indica}]
       2: large tropical seed pod with very tangy pulp that is eaten
          fresh or cooked with rice and fish or preserved for
          curries and chutneys [syn: {tamarindo}]