noun
or pa·paia pəˈpī(y)ə, -ˈpäyə
( -s )
Etymology: Spanish, of American Indian origin; akin to Otomac papai, Carib ababai
1. : a tree ( Carica papaya ) native to tropical American and having long-petioled palmately 7-lobed leaves, clusters of dioecious yellow flowers, and large oblong yellow fruit that has a pulpy flesh and thick rind and is eaten raw, boiled as a vegetable, pickled, or preserved
2. : the fruit of the papaya tree — see carpaine