[ba.nana] n, often attrib [Sp or Pg; Sp, fr. Pg, of African origin; akin to Wolof banana banana] (1597) 1: an elongated usu. tapering tropical fruit with soft pulpy flesh enclosed in a soft usu. yellow rind
2: any of several widely cultivated perennial herbs (genus Musa of the family Musaceae, the banana family) bearing bananas in compact pendent bunches