Dictionary

susumber en · NOUN

Etymology

Perhaps related to Ewe súsruba and/or sū́sùmɛ, sū́sumɛ (an aromatic soup-plant, sometimes identified as Solanum torvum or another Solanum) or Twi Akan nsúsŭaa (a kind of pot-herb; related to ǹsú (“water”)?) + mma, mbá (“offspring, young (plants, etc)”).

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) Solanum torvum, a bushy, spiny perennial plant: a wild eggplant.
   • A small thorny bush, susumber grows in Jamaica both wild and in cultivation. It is also known as "gully bean" because of its typical sites of growth. It bears in abundance a bitter berry about one centimetre in diameter ... 2008, B. W. Higman, Jamaican Food: History, Biology, Culture, University of West Indies Press:
   • [...], several cases are recorded by Dr. Manners, of Jamaica, W.I., of poisoning by the susumber berries, of which one proved fatal, and several others recovered, probably in consequence of the early evacuation of the stomach ... 1881, George Bacon Wood, Franklin Bache, The Dispensatory of the United States of America, page 383:
   • Five family members in New York City suffered gastrointestinal distress, dizziness, slurred speech, cranial nerve deficits, and ataxia the next morning after consumption of an evening meal containing susumber berries. 2013, T. K. Lim, Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 6, Fruits, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 438:
   • The reaction of all these was alkaline from ammonia. The stomach contained a good many susumber berries, which were readily recognised by their seeds accompanying them. The mucous coat of the stomach was in its natural condition. 1868, Edinburgh Medical Journal, page 400:
2. (countable) The edible, though sometimes poisonous, fruit (berry / bean) of this plant.
   • Susumber (Gully Beans) - 2 cups susumbers - 3 cups water […] 2012, Enid Clarke Watson, Enid's Homestyle Authentic Jamaican Cuisine, →ISBN, page 91:
   • These Susumbers are frequently offered for sale in the public markets, at various times of the year. 1974, Alex D. Hawkes, Wild Flowers of Jamaica, HarperCollins, page 12:
   • There are all sorts of exotic fruits and vegetables — tamarinds, rose apples, soursops, ortaniques, jackfruit, callaloo, yampies, tannias, susumbers. Try Bombay mango in coconut cream for dessert. ... curried saltfish, saltfish and susumbers (described in chapter 5), shredded saltfish (fried in lard with scallion, tomatoes and pepper) and saltfish patties ... 1974, Pan Am's world guide: the encyclopedia of travel, →ISBN, page 927:
   • Salt Fish and Susumbers Soak and boil the salt fish. While boiling add some young susumber berries to the fish and boil till tender. Flake and pepper the fish. Mix in seasoning and the susumbers. Serve with melted butter poured over. 1957, The Farmer's Food Manual: A Recipe Book for the West Indies, page 222:

Forms

Synonyms

wild eggplant