pitahaya

[ pit-uh-hahy-uh ]

/ ˌpɪt əˈhaɪ ə /

any of several cacti of the genus Lemaireocereus and related genera, of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, bearing edible fruit.

the fruit of such a cactus.

Also pi·ta·ya

[pi-tahy-uh] /pɪˈtaɪ ə/.

Origin of pitahaya

1750–60, Americanism; < American Spanish < Taino

On one side of the glade, where the ground was dry and sandy, there stood a small clump of pitahaya cactus.

The White Chief |Mayne Reid
And hang on they did until they dashed past the little station of Pitahaya and after several minutes began to slow down.

The Broncho Rider Boys with Funston at Vera Cruz |Frank Fowler
You know very well that Kokomo wishes to be chief in place of Pitahaya.'

The Trail Book |Mary Austin
Besides corn, they manufacture and sell a syrup extracted from the pitahaya.

The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 1 |Hubert Howe Bancroft

There was also Pitahaya, the chief, who was so old that he spent most of the time singing the evil out of his eyes.

The Trail Book |Mary Austin

pitahaya

/ (ˌpɪtəˈhaɪə) /

any giant cactus of Central America and the SW United States, esp the saguaro

Also called: dragon fruit the edible red pulpy fruit of such cacti, which has a mild sweet flavour

C18: Mexican Spanish, from Haitian Creole