Monday, 7 August 2023

The Persian roots of the word 'lemon'

'Lemon' is a word borrowed from Persian 'līmun'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.


lemon [noun] [15th century]
  • an acid fruit that is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry produced by a small thorny citrus tree (Citru...
  • a tree that bears
  • one (as an automobile) that is unsatisfactory or defective
See 'lemon' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Persian.

Etymology: Middle English 'lymon' from Middle French 'limon' from Medieval Latin 'limon-, limo' from Arabic 'laymūn, līmūn' from Persian 'līmū, līmun'
See more loan words from 1400s.


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