Dug them up, shook off excess dirt, left the long tops intact-this is what you braid. After letting them dry out a bit, (several days in a hot garage on an old screen door) the tops krinkle turning brown with a tiny bit of green down in the onion tops for strength.
southpaw (plural southpaws) (informal) One who is left-handed, especially in sports. (baseball) A left-handed pitcher. Since home plate is generally in the southwest corner to avoid glare in the batter's eyes, a southpaw's pitching hand is to the south. (one who is left-handed): left-hander, lefty.
A pawpaw is a homely, unassuming thing on the outside; it's possible to unwittingly pass a tree laden with half a dozen of the things. But let's say you notice the pawpaws, and reach for a ripe one. The best way to enjoy a pawpaw is right there in the woods, tearing into it as if you had claws.