frangipanis

Variant of frangipani

noun pl. frangipani or frangipanis

  1. any of a genus (Plumeria) of tropical American shrubs and trees of the dogbane family, with large, funnel-shaped flowers and milky sap; specif., a small tree (P. rubra) with fragrant, reddish flowers that are used, in Hawaii, to make leis
  2. a perfume obtained from, or scented like, such flowers
  3. a custard dessert or a custard filling for cakes and tarts, usually flavored with ground almonds

Origin: It, after Marquis Frangipani (16th-c. It nobleman), said to have invented the perfume

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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