Chapter ALLEJA to ALLIGATOR-PEAR of A by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

and all the rest is soft meate, so as when they are full ripe, they are, as it were, butter, and have a delicate taste.”—Joseph de Acosta, 250.

c. 1660.—

“The Aguacat no less is Venus Friend
(To th’ Indies Venus Conquest doth extend)
A fragrant Leaf the Aguacata bears;
Her Fruit in fashion of an Egg appears,
With such a white and spermy Juice it swells
As represents moist Life's first Principles.”

Cowley, Of Plantes, v.

1680.—“This Tavoga is an exceeding pleasant Island, abounding in all manner of fruits, such as Pine- apples.… Albecatos, Pears, Mammes.”—Capt. Sharpe, in Dampier, iv.

1685.—“The Avogato Pear- tree is as big as most Pear-trees … and the Fruit as big as a large Lemon.… The Substance in the inside is green, or a little yellowish, and soft as Bútter.…”—Dampier, i. 203.

1736.—“Avogato, Baum.… This fruit itself has no taste, but when mixt with sugar and lemon juice gives a wholesome and tasty flavour.”—Zeidler’s Lexicon, s.v.

1761.—

“And thou green avocato, charm of sense,
Thy ripen’d marrow liberally bestows’t.”

Grainger, Bk. I.

1830.—“The avocada, with its Brobdignag pear, as large as a purser’s lantern.” —Tom Cringle, ed. 1863, 40.

[1861.—“There is a well-known West Indian fruit which we call an avocado or alligator pear.”—Tylor, Anahuac, 227.]

1870.—“The aguacate or Alligator pear.”—Squier, Honduras, 142.

1873.—“Thus the fruit of the Persea gratissima was called Ahucatl’ by the ancient Mexicans; the Spaniards corrupted it to avocado, and our sailors still further to ‘Alligator pears.’ ”—Belt’s Nicaragua, 107.