This word has been variously spelled. Botanists of the early part of this century (Muhlenberg, Barton, Eaton) spell it with one m. The following are, in chronological order, some of the orthographies: Persimon (Kalm, 1748); Persimon, Put-chimon, Pitchumon (Clayton, 1743); Parsimon (Tailfer, 1741); Phishimon (Catesby, 1711,-26)', Persimmon (Lawson, 1709; Beverly, 1705); Pos-simon (in a list of Long Island plants, 1670); Persimmon (Shrigley, 1669); Persimena (in a description of New Albion, 1648).

These various forms are derived from Virginia-Indian (Algonkin) Pessemmin (as spelled by Strachey about 1610). The syllable min is an inseparable Algonkin suffix, meaning "fruit" or "grain," as in Homine (Hominy) "the grain par excellence," Odeimin, "heart-berry" (Strawberry), Mishimin, "big fruit "(apple), Assimin (whence Assimina), etc., etc. The signification of the first syllable (varied to pars-, pos, etc.) is not so clear in meaning, but it may perhaps be a variant of the Algonkin root pas-," dry," giving us the meaning of a " fruit [to be] dried." Capt. Smith, in fact, tells us that the Virginia Indians prepared persimmons after the manner of prunes, by drying them upon mats and hurdles. Cf. Cree (Algonkin) Pasiminan, "dried fruit." New York.