durian

Definition

Any of several trees, genus Durio, of Southeast Asia.

Etymology

From Malay durian, ultimately from Proto-Austronesian *duʀi (“thorn”). Doublet of iwi, from Māori.

Example Sentences

• "1692, Robert Boyle, General Heads for the Natural History of a Country Great or Small, London: John Taylor and S. Hedford, “Enquiries for Suratte, &c.,” p. 96, Whether the Betele hath such a contrariety to the Durion, that a few Leaves of that, put to a whole Shopful of Durions, will make them all rot suddenly; and whether those that have surfeited on Durions, and thereby over-heated themselves, do, by laying a Leaf or two of Betele upon their Breasts or Stomachs, immediately cure the Inflammations, and Recover."
• "The Mangosteen, Lansat, Rambutan, Jack, Jambou, and Blimbing, are all abundant; but most abundant and most esteemed is the Durian, a fruit about which very little is known in England, but which both by natives and Europeans in the Malay Archipelago is reckoned superior to all others."
• "The dessert I thoroughly enjoyed, for the various fruits of Singapore are delicious. One of them, the "durion," exhales a most noxious perfume, but is pleasant to the palate."