arrayán

noun

ar·​ra·​yán

ˌärəˈyän

plural -s

1

: any of several Mexican trees or shrubs of the genera Psidium, Myrtus, Gaultheria, Pernettya, and Rapanea

2

[American Spanish, from Spanish] in the West Indies

a

: wax myrtle

b

: any of several plants of the genus Ardisia

3

[American Spanish, from Spanish]

a

: an ornamental shrub (Eugenia apiculata synonym Luma apiculata) of Chile with edible black berries

b

: a shrub (Eugenia arayan) of Colombia and Ecuador

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish, from Spanish, myrtle, from Arabic ar-rai̯̯ḥān, any fragrant plant

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