pecan

Meaning

Noun

• A deciduous tree, Carya illinoinensis (species), of the central and southern United States, having deeply furrowed bark, pinnately compound leaves, and edible nuts.
• A smooth, thin-shelled, edible oval nut of this tree.
• A half of the edible portion of the inside of this nut.

Origin

• Borrowed from French pacane and at first spelt paccan. The French word derives from an Algonquian word, perhaps Miami (Illinois) pakani. Compare Cree pakan ("hard nut"), Ojibwe bagaan, Abenaki pagann, bagôn, pagôn.