cashew

noun

Etymology: Reanalysis of French acajou as a + cajou, from Old Tupi akaîu. Doublet of acajou.

1. A tree, Anacardium occidentale, native to northeastern Brazil, now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew nuts and cashew apples.

   “Soft-wood grafting and veneer grafting are successful in cashew.”

   “Also known as the Native Cashew, it is a member of the Anacardiaceae, the same plant family to which the Cashew and Mango trees belong.”

2. A cashew nut.

   “In some countries, cashews continue to be cracked manually although cracking machinery and other shelling mechanisms have been introduced.”

   “The bland cashew is a fitting substitute for higher priced almonds to extend the nut texture. In baking, however, almonds are more suitable for cake decoration than cashews.”