Cacaoist
/ˈkə.kaʊ.ɪst/noun
A person who cultivates, studies, trades, or specializes in cacao.
Did you know?In Aztec society, cacao beans were used as money, while cacao drinks played roles in elite, ceremonial, and religious contexts.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian period
Mayan/Nahuatl
kakaw / cacahuatl
“Terms associated with the cacao tree, fruit, or beans; the ultimate origin is debated and may involve earlier Mayan borrowing.”
16th Century
Spanish
cacao
“The cacao tree, its seeds, or products made from them; Spanish adopted the term during contact with Mesoamerica.”
16th–17th Century
English
cacao
“The tropical tree and its seeds, especially in trade and botanical writing.”
19th Century
English
-ist
“A productive suffix, from Greek -istēs through Latin and French, denoting a person associated with a practice, subject, or occupation.”
Modern English
English
cacaoist
“A specialist, cultivator, trader, or advocate connected with cacao.”