Muscadine
/ˈmʌskəˌdaɪn/noun
A North American grape of the species Vitis rotundifolia, or the vine and fruit itself.
Did you know?The word entered English through French forms for a sweet, musky-scented grape, and its name preserves an old sensory association rather than a botanical one.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
LL
muscus
“musk, the strong animal perfume”
Old French
OF
muscade
“a musky-scented grape or grape-like thing”
Middle French
MF
muscardin(e)
“musky, sweet-scented; used for certain grapes”
Early Modern English
English
muscadine
“a musky grape, especially a southern grape”
Modern English
English
muscadine
“the grape or vine of Vitis rotundifolia”