C18: from Spanish genipa, from French, from Guarani
genipap in British English
(ˈdʒɛnɪˌpæp) or genip
noun
1.
an evergreen Caribbean rubiaceous tree, Genipa americana, with reddish-brown edible orange-like fruits
2.
the fruit of this tree
Word origin
C17: from Portuguese genipapo, from Tupi
genip in American English
(ɡəˈnɪp)
noun
1. Also: ginep
a genipap
2.
a tropical American tree, Melicoccus bijugatus, of the soapberry family, bearing a yellow, sweet, edible fruit
3.
the fruit itself
Also called (for defs. 2, 3): Spanish lime
Word origin
[1750–60; shortened form of genipap]This word is first recorded in the period 1750–60. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: infiltrate, permeability, quartz, summation, totem