rambutan
/ramˈb(j)uːt(ə)n
/noun
1A red, plum-sized tropical fruit with soft spines and a slightly acidic taste.Spiky red rambutans, so easy to peel, were their favourite....
- The durian, mango, rambutan, mangosteen, pineapple and other fruits are displayed in the market along with a large selection of seafood.
- While the rambutans were there, as well as all the cakes, we were filled by the BBQ dishes and turned down offers of coffee and cakes, despite the name of the restaurant.
2The Malaysian tree that bears the rambutan.
- Nephelium lappaceum, family Sapindaceae.
- A guide told us that the night before our visit, 300 rambutan trees went from fruit-laden to bald.
- Others in the same genus are the longan, rambutan, and pulasan.
Origin
Early 18th century: from Malay rambūtan, from rambut 'hair', with allusion to the fruit's spines.