Balanites

noun

Bal·​a·​ni·​tes

ˌbaləˈnītēz

: a small genus of Old World tropical trees of the family Zygophyllaceae distinguished by the one-seeded drupe

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek balanitēs acorn-shaped, from balan- + -itēs -ite

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!