tomatillo

[ toh-muh-tee-oh, -teel-yoh ]
/ ˌtoʊ məˈti oʊ, -ˈtil yoʊ /

noun, plural to·ma·til·loes, to·ma·til·los.

a plant, Physalis ixocarpa, of the nightshade family, native to Mexico, having yellow flowers with five blackish spots in the throat and bluish, sticky berries in a purple-veined calyx.
Also called Mexican ground cherry.

Origin of tomatillo

1910–15; < Spanish, diminutive of tomate tomato

British Dictionary definitions for tomatillo

tomatillo
/ (tɒməˈtɪləʊ, -ˈtiːjəʊ) /

noun

a solanaceous plant, Physalis ixocarpa, of South America
the greenish-purple fruit of this plant that is a staple in Mexican cuisine Also called: green tomato