pawpaw

noun

paw·​paw

variants or less commonly papaw

1

pə-ˈpȯ  : papaya

2

ˈpä-(ˌ)pȯ 

ˈpȯ-

: a North American tree (Asimina triloba) of the custard-apple family with purple flowers and an edible green-skinned fruit

also : its fruit

Examples of pawpaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Growing Conditions: Full sun and rich, well-draining soil Size: 10-25 feet Hardiness Zones: 4-9 10 of 10 Pawpaw Apple trees are native to Central Asia, and peach trees hail from Northwest China, but pawpaws are native to North America. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Jan. 2025

And unlike other fruit trees, Farzan said, pawpaws that are picked too early will never ripen properly. —Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 28 Nov. 2024

Ohio hosts an annual pawpaw festival in September, when the fruit ripens. —Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 28 Nov. 2024

The sun shines on Andrew Horning’s farm in Freedom, Indiana, where there is a pawpaw tree, a chicken coop and garden built by his wife and plenty of space for his dogs Odin and Prague to roam. —Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably modification of Spanish papaya

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pawpaw

noun

paw·​paw

variants also papaw

1

pə-ˈpȯ

: papaya

2

ˈpäp-(ˌ)ȯ,

ˈpȯp-

: a North American tree having purple flowers and an edible fruit with green skin

also : its fruit

Medical Definition

pawpaw

variant of papaw