ˈkarəb noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French carobe, caroube, from Medieval Latin carrubium, from Arabic kharrūbah
1. also carob bean
a. or carob tree : a leguminous tree ( Ceratonia siliqua ) of the Mediterranean region having evergreen pinnate leaves and apetalous flowers in small red racemes
b. : one of the long pods of this tree containing a sweetish pulp, having small seeds that were formerly employed as standards of weight, and used as food for humans and livestock — called also algarroba, locust bean, locust pod, St.-John's-bread
2.
[alteration of caroba ]
: any of several So. American timber trees of the genus Jacaranda