Pomelo
/ˈpɒm.ə.loʊ/noun
A large citrus fruit with a thick rind and sweet-tart flesh.
Did you know?Unlike words such as mortgage or disaster, pomelo has no dark hidden meaning; its etymology is tangled and likely passed through multiple languages as the fruit spread through trade routes.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
pomelo
“The modern English name for the large citrus fruit.”
19th Century
Tamil?
pampa limāsu / pampa limau
“A proposed Southeast Asian source in some accounts, referring to a large citrus fruit, though the exact pathway is uncertain.”
19th Century
Dutch/English
pompelmoes
“A form recorded in European languages for the fruit, likely mediated through colonial trade contact.”
Earlier Southeast Asian languages
Malay?
limau
“A general word for citrus fruit, likely part of the borrowing history of the name.”
Explore more surprising origins