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pistachio

(Science: botany) The nut of the pistacia vera, a tree of the order Anacardiaceae, containing a kernel of a pale greenish colour, which has a pleasant taste, resembling that of the almond, and yields an oil of agreeable taste and odour; called also pistachio nut. It is wholesome and nutritive. The tree grows in arabia, persia, Syria, and Sicily.

Alternative forms: pistachia.

Origin: It. Pistacchio (cf. Sp. Pistacho, F. Pistache), fr. L. Pistacium, Gr, fr. Per. Pistah. Cf. Fistinut.