Also 7 avogato, 8 avocato, 9 avigato. [Sp. avocado advocate, substituted by ‘popular etymology’ for the Aztec ahuacatl (Tylor), of which a nearer form in Sp. is aguacate; F. aguacat and avocat, in Eng. also avigato and, corruptly, alligator (pear).] The fruit of a West Indian tree (Persea gratissima); a large pear-shaped fruit, called also ALLIGATOR PEAR.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1729), I. 203. The Avogato Pear-tree is as big as most Pear-trees … the Fruit as big as a large Lemon.
1763. Grainger, Sugar-Cane, I. 422. And thou green avocato, charm of sense, Thy ripened marrow liberally bestow’st. (Note. The avocato, avocado, avigato, or as the English corruptly call it, Alligator-pear.)
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 30. Much esteemed in the West Indies under the name of the Avocado Pear.
1861. [see ALLIGATOR 3].
1864. Webster, Avigato.
1829. Marryat, F. Mildmay, xviii. (Rtlg.), 174. Abbogada pears (better known by the name of subaltern’s butter).
