from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tamarind \Tam"a*rind\, n. [It. tamarindo, or Sp. tamarindo, or
Pg. tamarindo, tamarinho, from Ar. tamarhind[imac],
literally, Indian date; tamar a dried date + Hind India: cf.
F. tamarin. Cf. {Hindu}.] (Bot.)
1. A leguminous tree ({Tamarindus Indica}) cultivated both
the Indies, and the other tropical countries, for the sake
of its shade, and for its fruit. The trunk of the tree is
lofty and large, with wide-spreading branches; the flowers
are in racemes at the ends of the branches. The leaves are
small and finely pinnated.
[1913 Webster]
2. One of the preserved seed pods of the tamarind, which
contain an acid pulp, and are used medicinally and for
preparing a pleasant drink.
[1913 Webster]
{Tamarind fish}, a preparation of a variety of East Indian
fish with the acid pulp of the tamarind fruit.
{Velvet tamarind}.
(a) A West African leguminous tree ({Codarium
acutifolium}).
(b) One of the small black velvety pods, which are used
for food in Sierra Leone.
{Wild tamarind} (Bot.), a name given to certain trees
somewhat resembling the tamarind, as the {Lysiloma
latisiliqua} of Southern Florida, and the {Pithecolobium
filicifolium} of the West Indies.
[1913 Webster]