litchi

litchi or lee·chee, li·chee, ly·chee [lee-chee] ExamplesWord Origin noun, plural li·tchis.

1. the fruit of a Chinese tree, Litchi chinensis, of the soapberry family, consisting of a thin, brittle shell enclosing a sweet, jellylike pulp and a single seed.
2. the tree itself.

Origin of litchi 1580–90; New Latin Chinese lìzhi (lì ‘scallion’ + zhī ‘branch’) Examples from the Web for litchi Historical Examples of litchi

Or in ivory chopsticks, oolong tea, imitation jade, litchi nuts and preserved leeches!

Tutt and Mr. Tutt

Arthur Train

By some of the earlier botanical works the litchi is placed either in the genus Dimocarpus or Euphoria.

The Nut Culturist

Andrew S. Fuller

About him were golden limes, ginger in syrup, litchi nuts, pickled leeches.

Tutt and Mr. Tutt

Arthur Train

British Dictionary definitions for litchi litchi lichee, lichi or lychee noun

1. a Chinese sapindaceous tree, Litchi chinensis, cultivated for its round edible fruits
2. the fruit of this tree, which has a whitish juicy edible aril

Word Origin for litchi C16: from Cantonese lai chi