confusing nuts

Question

Hi all,

Nuts are considered a group of fruits composed of a hard shell and an edible seed. The most significant distinguishing mark of the fruits categorized in this group -as it seems- is the "-nut" suffix, such as: walnut, hazelnut, peanut, etc.

The confusing point is not only a number of nuts don't have "-nut" ending, such as: pistachio and almond; but also coconut is not considered a nut in spite of ending in "-nut"!

Why is that, please?

Thank you.

Comments

http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/ambiguous-nuts.3145035/#post-15914036

Answer 1

coco = head,skull + nut

I think 'nut' in coconut refers to hard-shell, But there is and old-fashioned meaning for nut in UK that means 'your head or brain'.