Lemon
/ˈlɛm.ən/noun
A yellow, oval citrus fruit known for its sour taste.
Did you know?In ancient times, lemons were believed to ward off evil spirits and were used in rituals to purify spaces.
Etymological Timeline
Arabic
Arabic
لَيمُونَة (laymūna)
“A citrus fruit, often with a sour taste.”
Persian
Persian
لیمو (limu)
“A citrus fruit, referring to various types including lemons.”
Sanskrit
Sanskrit
नीम (nīma)
“A type of tree; the term evolved to include citrus fruits.”
14th Century
Old French
limon
“A term used to denote a lemon, derived from Arabic influence.”
15th Century
Middle English
lemoun
“The form of lemon in English, directly borrowed from Old French.”
Modern English
English
lemon
“The familiar term for the yellow citrus fruit we know today.”