Also (6–7 caccao), 6–8 cacoa, 8 caco, cocao; and see COCOA, [Sp. cacao, ad. Mexican caca-uatl ‘caca-tree.’]
1. The seed of a tropical American tree (Theobroma Cacao, N. O. Byttneriaceæ), from which cocoa and chocolate are prepared.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 342. In the steade [of money] the halfe shelles of almonds, whiche kynde of Barbarous money they [the Mexicans] caule cacao or cacanguate.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., V. (ed. 7), 568. Fruit, which the Inhabitants cal in their tongue Cacaco, it is like to an Almond,… of it they make a certaine drinke, which they love marvelous well.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith., iv. (1691), 83. The value of Sugar, Indico, Tobacco, Cotton, and Caccao, brought from the Southward parts of America.
1702. Lond. Gaz., No. 3842/3. A French Prize … laden with Sugar, Caco and Indigo from Martinico.
1748. Anson, Voy., II. v. (ed. 4), 248. Her load consisted of timber, cocao, coco-nuts, tobacco, hides.
1832. Macgillivray, Humboldt’s Trav., viii. 108. Cacao and sugar were also raised to a considerable extent.
1849. W. Irving, Columbus, II. 315. There were … great quantities of cacao, a fruit as yet unknown to the Spaniards, but which, as they soon found, the natives held in great estimation, using it both as food and money.
† 2. The powder produced by grinding the seeds, often with other substances mixed; also the drink prepared from the seeds or powder; = COCOA.
1652. Wadsworth, Chocolate, 2. Cacao … is cold and dry.
1662. H. Stubbe, Ind. Nectar, ii. 8. They had brought to them jarrs of Cacao.
3. The tree whose fruit yields this seed, more fully called Cacao-tree.
1756. P. Browne, Jamaica, 11. They supply the most agreeable soils for the cacao.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer. (1778), II. VII. 296. The value … was estimated by the number of nuts of the cacao, which he might expect in exchange.
1832. Veg. Subst. Food, 372. The seeds of the cacao were made use of as money in Mexico.
4. attrib., as in cacao-nut, -tree, etc.; also cacao-butter, a fatty matter obtained from the cacao-nut, used for making pomades, candles, etc.; cacao-walk, a plantation of cacao-trees.
1652. Wadsworth, Chocolate, 13. When they are growne up to a good hight, then they plant the Cacao-trees.
1661. Hickeringill, Jamaica, 30. Two of these little Cacoa Nuts (or Kernells) passe currant for one farthing. Ibid., 24. Cacoa-Walks … containing ten or twelve Acres of Ground.
1662. H. Stubbe, Ind. Nectar, ii. 9. They made a certain cooling-drink of the Cacao nuts.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer. (1778), II. VIII. 412. The cacao-tree grows spontaneously in several parts of the torrid zone.
1885. Lady Brassey, The Trades, 140. The virgin forest, consisting of a dense impenetrable mass of vegetation of all kinds, is first cleared by the coolies, and the ground is then prepared for the reception of the cacao-pods, which are planted in rows called ‘cacao-walks.’
