cherimoya
/ˌtʃɛrɪˈmɔɪə
/(also chirimoya)
noun
1A kind of custard apple with scaly green skin and a flavour resembling that of pineapple.In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade attachment, combine the cherimoya, lime juice, and panela and purée until smooth and the sugar is dissolved, about 45 seconds....
- Both atemoya, grown in Florida, and cherimoya, grown in California, have green, leathery skins with either scales or a notched, medallion-like design.
- Initially, they were investigating fruits that appear frequently in the flavours of wines grown in warmer climates, but cherimoya, melon, papaya, passionfruit and banana all proved incompatible with Vitis vinifera.
2The small tree which bears the cherimoya fruit, native to the Andes of Peru and Ecuador.
- Annona cherimola, family Annonaceae.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from Spanish, from Quechua, from chiri 'cold or refreshing' + muya 'circle'.