orange

Definition

An evergreen tree of the genus Citrus such as Citrus sinensis which yields oranges (the fruit).

Etymology

Etymology tree ▲ Italian melaranciacalq. Old French Orengeinflu. ▲ Old Occitan auranjainflu. Old French pomme d'orenge Old French orenge Middle French orangebor. Middle English orenge English orange Inherited from Middle English orenge, orange, from Old French pome orenge (“fruit orange”), influenced by the place name Orange (which is from Gaulish and unrelated to the word for the fruit and color) and by Old Occitan auranja and calqued from Old Italian melarancio, melarancia, compound of mela (“apple”) and un'arancia (“an orange”), from Arabic نَارَنْج (nāranj), from Early Classical Persian نَارَنْگْ (nārang), from Sanskrit नारङ्ग (nāraṅga, “orange tree”), ultimately from Dravidian. Compare Tamil நாரங்காய் (nāraṅkāy), compound of நாரம் (nāram, “water”) and காய் (kāy, “fruit”); also Telugu నారంగము, నారింజ (nāraṅgamu, nāriñja), Malayalam നാരങ്ങ (nāraṅṅa), Kannada ನಾರಂಗಿ (nāraṅgi)). Originally borrowed as the surname (derived from the place name) in the 13th century, before the sense of the fruit was imported in the late 14th century and the color in 1510. In the color sense, largely displaced ġeolurēad, whence yellow-red.

Example Sentences

• "“What you drinking?” “Orange and soda will go down nicely, thanks.” “Pint?” “Sure.” Andy headed for the bar, stopping along the way to kiss Shaunna and check she and Kris were OK for a drink. “Everything all right?” Sean asked."
• "I ran out into the street and around the block, searching everywhere, and finally burst into O'Dowd's pub around the corner to see Thomas sitting at the bar drinking orange and eating a bag of crisps with two old men."
• "It transpired this lad was drinking orange and faculties were keen. There were one or two verbal exchanges, then I followed him into the car park. He said to the doorman, 'I won't be long.' He easily knocked me to the ground."

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