'cherimoya' originates from Spanish 'cherimoya', ultimately from Quechua 'chirimuya' (from 'chiri' meaning 'cold' and 'muyu' meaning 'seed' or 'fruit').

'cherimoya' changed from Quechua 'chirimuya' into Spanish 'cherimoya' and was later borrowed into English as 'cherimoya' in the 18th–19th century.

Initially, the form referred to the Quechua words meaning 'cold seed(s)' (or 'cold fruit'), but over time it became the proper name for the specific tropical fruit now called 'cherimoya'.