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Alligator Pears (the fruit of Persea gratissima)

is a curious corruption. The aboriginal Carib word for the tree is “aouacate,” which the Spanish discoverers pronounced “avocado,” and English sailors calledalligator,” as the nearest approach which occurred to them.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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All-work
Alla or Allah (that is, al-ilah)
Alla Akbar
Allan-a-Dale
Allemand
Allen
Allestree
Alley (The)
Alliensis (Dies) (June 16th, B.C. 390)
Alligator
Alligator Pears (the fruit of Persea gratissima)
Alliteration
Allodials
Allopathy
Alls
Allworth
Allworthy
Alma (the human soul)
Alma Mater
Almack’s
Almagest