dragon fruit

== English == === Alternative forms === dragonfruit === Etymology === From dragon +‎ fruit; most likely a calque or literal translation of a term in a Southeast Asian language (compare Chinese 火龍果 / 火龙果 (huǒlóngguǒ, literally “fiery dragon fruit”). Initial English texts cite Vietnamese thanh long; however, this was constructed differently, being a Sino-Vietnamese term for "Azure Dragon" (青龍) re-used to reference the green, "unripe" color of the fruit. First attributed in 1963. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈdɹæɡ.ən ˌfɹuːt/ === Noun === dragon fruit (plural dragon fruits) The fruit of certain cacti of the genus (Stenocereus (syn. Hylocereus) spp.), cultivated in Southeast Asia and Central and South America, having cerise-pink- or yellow-coloured skin and a white or pink sweet fleshy interior with black seeds. ==== Synonyms ==== (fruit of certain cacti): pitaya, strawberry pear ==== Descendants ==== → Dutch: drakenvrucht (calque) → Thai: แก้วมังกร (gɛ̂ɛo-mang-gɔɔn) (calque) ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === dragon fruit on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Hylocereus on Wikispecies.Wikispecies