Soursops

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A tropical fruit characterized by its green spiky exterior and sweet, tangy flesh commonly used in beverages and desserts
2. A large, custard-like fruit from the Annona muricata tree, known for its unique flavor that combines sweetness with acidity
3. An edible fruit from a broadleaf evergreen tree, valued for its juicy flesh and potential health benefits, often consumed fresh or in culinary dishes

Etymology: "Soursops" is the plural of "soursop," the name for a large, spiky tropical fruit from the custard apple family. The word is a plain compound of "sour" and "sop," and the sop part is the more interesting one. In English, a "sop" is a piece of bread or other food soaked in liquid, and the fruit's soft, wet flesh was apparently likened to that sort of soaked bread. The fruit's name thus describes its texture and taste in a homely way, though the sourness in the name does not match the fruit well. Its flesh is actually sweet-tart, which is why the compound reads a little oddly to anyone who has tasted one.