Persimmons
In Appalachian and Southern life, "persimmon" usually means the native American persimmon tree and its fruit - a cultural staple tied to old recipes and winter-weather lore.
synonyms: persimmon fruit, persimmon tree, wild fruit
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Persimmons' - if they're ripe - are sweet and delicious. But if not, they're pretty much the worst fruit you've every tasted, worser'n anything. Like eatin' a washcloth soaked in dried up paint. We used to have persimmon fights as young'uns - those things smart. Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Persimmons' - if they're ripe - are sweet and delicious. But if not, they're pretty much the worst fruit you've every tasted, worser'n anything. Like eatin' a washcloth soaked in dried up paint. We used to have persimmon fights as young'uns - those things smart. Pronunciation
[per-SIM-un] /pərˈsɪmən/
Meaning & Usage
- The Tree & Fruit (regional plant/food)
Mae:
We’ve got a big persimmon by the smokehouse.
We’ve got a big persimmon by the smokehouse.
Earl:
Fruit’ll be good and sweet after a frost.
Fruit’ll be good and sweet after a frost.- Weather Lore (seed signs)
Hazel:
Cut a persimmon seed - if you see a spoon, it’s a snowy winter.
Cut a persimmon seed - if you see a spoon, it’s a snowy winter.
Ruby:
Knife means windy; fork means mild, so they say.
Knife means windy; fork means mild, so they say.- Kitchen Tradition (pudding, bread, beer)
Clara:
Bringin’ persimmon pudding to the fundraiser?
Bringin’ persimmon pudding to the fundraiser?
Leroy:
Wouldn’t be fall without it.
Wouldn’t be fall without it.variations: American persimmon, ’Simmon / simmon, wild persimmon, possumwood (regional), persimmon seed lore, persimmon pudding
★ Wild American persimmons are puckery when unripe. Wait until they’re soft or after a frost - that’s when they turn honey-sweet. Don’t confuse them with the big grocery-store Asian persimmons; the wild ones are smaller and darker. ★
Origin and Etymology
Native to the eastern and central U.S., the American persimmon took root in Southern/Appalachian foodways early on. Families passed down recipes (pudding, bread, beer) and seasonal lore (seed "spoon/knife/fork") that still show up in fall traditions.
Usage Notes
A cultural touchstone more than a slang word - fits alongside Vidalia onions and county-famous tomatoes as regional icons. You’ll hear both the literal fruit/tree and the folklore in everyday talk.
- Persimmon tree - yard, fencerow, old homesteads
- ’Simmon pudding - classic fall dessert
- Seed signs - spoon/knife/fork winter predictions
- Best when soft - wait for frost or full ripeness
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: often clipped to "’simmon," as in "’simmon tree" or "’simmon pudding."