pampelmoes

English

Alternative forms

• pampelmouse, pamplemousse, pampelmousse, pomplemoes, pompelmoose, pampelmoose
• (obsolete): pampelimonses, pumplenose, pamplenose, pimplenose, pumblenose, pummelnose, pumpelmoes, pumplemoes, pumplemus, pumpelmus, pumplemousse, pomplemose, pomplemous, pompelmus, pompelmos, pompelmous, pompelmouse, pompelmousse

Etymology

From French pamplemousse and Dutch pompelmoes, probably from pompel (“thick”) or pompoen (“pumpkin”), from French pompon (“pumpkin; melon”), and from Portuguese limões (“lemons”). Continuing use in South Africa supported by Afrikaans pompelmoes and pampelmoes. Possibly originally transcribing Tamil பம்ப ளிமாசு (pampa ḷimācu, “big citrus”).

Noun

pampelmoes (plural pampelmoeses)

1. (now chiefly South Africa) Synonym of pomelo, as both a large fruit of Southeast Asia and as a catchall term for other related fruit such as the grapefruit.

Descendants

• pomelo (disputed)

References

• "pampelmous, n.", in the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press.